International Dance Day
The Funtastic Festivities Booklists compile stories that relate to fun and festive days so that readers of all ages can join the celebration with a good book!
On International Dance Day (April 29th), we celebrate being footloose and free to move to the rhythm of the music (or even no music). Whether you like ballet or jazz, all types of dance can be learned, performed, and most of all, enjoyed by all. Let’s pick up a book to learn more about dance!
Across the Floor by Natasha Deen (Orca Book Publishers) — Fiction, Prose, Music / Art, Contemporary, Series, ages 7-12.
Attitude by Robin Stevenson (Orca Book Publishers) — Fiction, Prose, Music / Art, Contemporary, Series, ages 7-12.
Barnyard Dance! by Sandra Boynton, illus. Sandra Boynton (Simon & Schuster) — Fiction, Board Book, Animals, Music / Art, ages 0-3.
Boys Dance! (American Ballet Theatre) by John Robert Allman, illus. Luciano Lozano (Penguin Random House / Doubleday Books FYR) — Nonfiction, Picture Book, Music / Art, Series, ages 4-6.
D is for Dragon Dance by Ying Chang Compestine, illus. YongSheng Xuan (Holiday House) — Fiction, Picture Book, Animals, Diversity, ages 4-6.
Dance Class #9: Dancing in the Rain by Beka, illus. Crip (Papercutz) — Fiction, Graphic Novel, Contemporary, Series, ages 7-12.
Dancing Danica by Shelley S. Garza, illus. Holly Weinstein (Brown Books Kids) — Fiction, Picture Book, Music / Art, ages 4-6.
Giant Dance Party by Betsy Bird, illus. Brandon Dorman (HarperCollins / Greenwillow Books) — Nonfiction, Picture Book, Animals, Series, ages 4-6.
Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae, illus. Guy Parker-Rees (Scholastic) — Fiction, Board Book, Animals, Music / Art, ages 0-3.
I Dance! by Elena Castro, Barbara M. Flores, and Eddie Hernández (Lee & Low Books) — Nonfiction, Picture Book, Background / Culture, Spanish, Health, ages 4-6.
I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison, illus. Frank Morrison (Bloomsbury Childrens) — Fiction, Picture Book, Music / Art, Concepts, ages 4-6.
Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George (Bloomsbury Childrens) — Fiction, Prose, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction, Teen.
Vampirina Ballerina by Anne Marie Pace, illus. LeUyen Pham (Disney-Hyperion) — Fiction, Picture Book, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Humor, Series, ages 4-6
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier (Penguin Random House / Knopf Books) — Fiction, Prose, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Series, Teen.
Join International Dance Day by reading a book!
List compiled by CBC’s resident holiday expert, Sommer Wissner. Check out other book lists on our blog.
