BABY DANCE
by Ann Taylor & illustrated by Marjorie van Heerden
This abbreviated version of Taylor’s poem,“The Baby Dance,” drawing upon infants’ universal love of song, weaves a few bouncing lines to make listeners wriggle. An African-American father croons to his baby daughter while engaging in a spontaneous and steadily more exuberant dance. “Dance, little baby,/move to and fro/Coo and crow, baby,/there you go.” Van Heerden’s judicious use of background colors subtly reflect the increasing tempo, as soothing blues gradually intensify into vibrant swirls of orange, yellow, and purple. A boisterous romp. (Board book. 1-3)