STEP! KICK! SPIN!

Two dogs step into the spotlight.

Clad in a street-cool outfit (blue sweatpants, black T-shirt beneath a sleeveless undershirt, and a plaid shirt knotted at the waist), a golden retriever–ish pooch struts confidently center stage, demonstrating a series of dance moves. A white dog with floppy ears and tan spots, wearing leggings and shorts, waits in the wings gazing admiringly. Perfectly poised Dog One bops blissfully; Dog Two is tentative and striving, but Dog Two’s steps pass muster, and the newcomer shimmies more assuredly. “Step!” “Step! Kick!” “Step! Kick! Spin!” “Step! Kick! Spin! Slide!” A list of action words, in large serif text, colorful and edged in white, each enthusiastically punctuated by an exclamation mark, grows by one on every page. Most are four-letter, one-syllable words—turn, drop, worm—accompanying the dogs’ body poses. The stakes rise with more complicated words: shimmy, robot, and even moonwalk. And finally, “Freeze!” Newly independent readers might find it a challenge to follow all these steps and still focus on deciphering the words, but they’ll find it an enjoyable ride all the same—and might be inspired to act out some of the moves.

Likely to have youngsters on their feet, strutting their stuff.