A welcome, rosy-hued reminder to dance to your own beat.
Dante doesn’t need to choose between cleats and choreography; he loves splitting time between soccer and ballet.
Dante knows how each activity strengthens the other with balance, discipline, and teamwork, so he’s caught off guard when his soccer teammates tease him for taking ballet. Fortunately, his quick wit and easy humor help him navigate both worlds. When his dance company enters a national dance competition that no ballet group has ever won, Dante has the idea to infuse their routine with hip-hop. Their teacher is hesitant, but Dante messages his favorite hip-hop artist, Nitty Smitty, for guidance. A few days later, the celebrity unexpectedly shows up at the studio doors. Together, they choreograph a hip-hop–infused Beauty and the Beast, with Dante starring as the Beast. With support from his ballet friends and his new mentor, Dante embraces every part of himself: soccer, hip-hop, and ballet. This installment in the series comes to a tidy, feel-good ending that asks readers to suspend disbelief; the swift turnaround also smooths over the team’s earlier bullying without requiring much reflection or accountability. Still, Dante’s creativity and moxie will endear him to readers, especially fans of dance. Franco’s friendly grayscale line illustrations are peppered throughout the story. Dante is Black, the supporting characters are racially diverse, and one of the competitive dance teams uses wheelchairs.
A welcome, rosy-hued reminder to dance to your own beat. (glossary, more information on dance, recipe) (Fiction. 7-9)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
ISBN: 9781536250268
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: March 23, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A welcome, well-researched reflection of cultural pride in the early-reader landscape.
The fourth installment in Delacre’s early-reader series centers on the rich musical traditions of Puerto Rico, once again featuring sibling tree frogs Rafi and Rosi Coquí.
Readers learn along with Rafi and Rosi as they explore bomba, plena, and salsa in three chapters. A glossary at the beginning sets readers up well to understand the Spanish vocabulary, including accurate phoneticization for non-Spanish speakers. The stories focus on Rafi and Rosi’s relationship within a musical context. For example, in one chapter Rafi finds out that he attracts a larger audience playing his homemade güiro with Rosi’s help even though he initially excluded her: “Big brothers only.” Even when he makes mistakes, as the older brother, Rafi consoles Rosi when she is embarrassed or angry at him. In each instance, their shared joy for music and dance ultimately shines through any upsets—a valuable reflection of unity. Informational backmatter and author’s sources are extensive. Undoubtedly these will help teachers, librarians, and parents to develop Puerto Rican cultural programs, curriculum, or home activities to extend young readers’ learning. The inclusion of instructions to make one’s own homemade güiro is a thoughtful addition. The Spanish translation, also by Delacre and published simultaneously, will require a more advanced reader than the English one to recognize and comprehend contractions (“pa’bajo-pa-pa’rriba”) and relatively sophisticated vocabulary.
A welcome, well-researched reflection of cultural pride in the early-reader landscape. (Early reader. 7-9)Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-89239-429-6
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Children's Book Press
Review Posted Online: July 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2019
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look...
Winning actually isn’t everything, as jazz-happy Rooster learns when he goes up against the legendary likes of Mules Davis and Ella Finchgerald at the barnyard talent show.
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look good—particularly after his “ ‘Hen from Ipanema’ [makes] / the barnyard chickies swoon.”—but in the end the competition is just too stiff. No matter: A compliment from cool Mules and the conviction that he still has the world’s best band soon puts the strut back in his stride. Alexander’s versifying isn’t always in tune (“So, he went to see his cousin, / a pianist of great fame…”), and despite his moniker Rooster plays an electric bass in Bower’s canted country scenes. Children are unlikely to get most of the jokes liberally sprinkled through the text, of course, so the adults sharing it with them should be ready to consult the backmatter, which consists of closing notes on jazz’s instruments, history and best-known musicians.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-58536-688-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011
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