Tessa's Tip-Tapping Toes

Tessa’s Tip-Tapping Toes by Carolyn Crimi. Illustrated by Marsha Gray Carrington. Tessa is a mouse who can’t stop dancing – she’s even made herself tap shoes out of bottle caps. Her mother tells her to scurry and hide like a proper mouse, and Tessa tries, but she feels all wrong inside. Meanwhile, the owner of Tessa’s house has gotten a new housecat. Oscar loves to sing, but when the neighbors complain, Mrs. Timboni tells Oscar to be quiet and take naps like a proper cat. Oscar tries, but he feels all wrong inside. Then, one fateful night, there is a thunderstorm that results in happy tip-tapping, hip-hopping ending for everyone. The bright, angular illustrations – triangles for Tessa, rectangles for Oscar – bring together this celebration of dance and following one’s heart. Unfortunately out of print, but hopefully your library, like mine, will have a copy.

Alley Cat's Meow

The Alley Cat’s Meow by Kathi Appelt. Illustrated by John Goodell. It’s the swingin’ 1930s, in a world populated by truly cool cats. Red takes the B-train and Ginger takes the Catanooga Choo-Choo to that famous jazz club, the Alley Cat’s Meow. Sparks fly as they meet (the good kind) and their dancing wows first the club and then the world. Appelt’s rhyming text should appeal to the young, while Goodell’s detailed oil paintings make this a treat especially for lovers of classic swing.

Lili at Ballet

Last month, Mr. FP pretty much refused to wear anything but leotard and tights (so helpful with the potty training!) Attempting to follow his interests, I checked out a batch of picture books about dancing.

Lili at Ballet by Rachel Isadora This is a very basic book about ballet, which surprised me by being one of the two dancing books that Mr. FP asked for over and over again. Isadora, formerly a professional dancer, follows Lili through her ballet lessons – changing clothes, barre work, floor work, and combinations. Finally, she performs in her ballet school’s recital. The story seems to be a thin gloss for the technical description, illustrated with quite lovely watercolors. A ballet lover will eat it up and look for the other books about Lili.