Showing posts with label children's book. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Imaginative approach to storytelling injects childlike magic into everyday life

Ella’s Dance Debut brings a magical story of a young girl’s life as a dancer, but Ella is not that girl. It is her umbrella, “Ella.” This imaginative story surrounds Ella the umbrella's life, riding the bus, going to dance classes, and getting ready for Ashton's big recital. Ella loves music and motion as much as Ashton does. When Ella learns that umbrellas will be used by the dancers, she is so excited, but things don’t go exactly as planned. For those who have read other books in this series, I promise you won't be disappointed.

Book Review by Donna

Book Review: Ella's Dance Debut

This book’s imaginative approach to storytelling injects childlike magic into an everyday scenario by telling it from an umbrella’s point of view. The whimsical, colorful illustrations by Emilia Ruminska not only bring the story to life but shine with the love of dance. With Ella’s Dance Debut, Once Upon a Dance delivers another interactive, entertaining tale for young children and early readers as Ballerina Konora joins in the story with photos that encourage kids to act out movements in the story. I love this concept.

This interaction with the story encourages imaginative play by an award-winning ballet teacher! I give this book five stars. While it is recommended for young children interested in dance as it features ballet terms and steps, I think this story will appeal to young children who love music, and those who love to pretend even if they are not involved in dance.

Other books by Once Upon a Dance that I recommend include:

Frankie’s Wish

Daryl’s Dancing Dolls

As BookHookup, I am a long-time book reviewer and received a free review copy of this book in collaboration with Blackberry Book Tours. I have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

About the authors

Once Upon a Dance offers movement, breath, joy, connection, and imagination through stories.

Their catalog of 25 interactive dance books highlights positive messages and role models throughout four main series:

Dance-It-Out! stories combine whimsical tales with movement and subtle life lessons (spans ages 4-9)
Dancing Shapes peeks at a professional ballerina’s journey, teaches ballet, and explores detail and form (spans ages 6-11)
Ballet Inspiration and Choreography Concepts deep dives into technique, tips, and insight for aspiring dancers (ages 8-12)
Prop-Based Dance Stories for Classroom and Anytime Fun debuts in 2023 to encourage scarf and parachute play.

Saturday, February 25, 2023

Imaginative, fun, & gets kids moving

Daryl and the Dancing Dolls brings a magical touch to everyday life. It is the believable magic of childhood that used to keep me awake to see my stuffed animals and dolls come to life at midnight.

Daryl and the Dancing Dolls Book Review

Once Upon a Dance delivers another fun read for young children and early readers. The story centers on Daryl a truck driver who lives a routing life until one day when she is sent on a unknown delivery route in a special purple truck. That day, driving a purple truck on that unknown route, magic touches Daryl’s life when her cargo of dolls comes to life. I don’t want to say more to avoid spoilers but I can say this is a fun read filled with full-page colorful illustrations.

Within the pages of Daryl and the Dancing Dolls, Ballerina Konora joins the story-telling with photos and suggestions for movement exploration as she encourages kids to act out the story in their own way or to follow the dance-step photos. What a great concept. This book is entertaining and encourages interaction and imaginative play by an award-winning ballet teacher! Engaging! I give it five stars. While it is recommended for children six and up, I do think this story will appeal to children as young as four. And if they enjoy this story, I also recommend Frankie’s Wish by the same authors. It is just as imaginative, fun, and gets the kids moving.

About Once Upon a Dance Authors

Once Upon a Dance is an award-winning mother-daughter collaboration.

Ballerina Konora climbed the ballet ladder to pro, and she’s thrilled to be living her dreams dancing with Ballet Idaho. Along the way, she danced iconic roles such as Sugar Plum Fairy and Cinderella.

Teacher Terrel taught dance for decades and was honored by her City Council for “embodying the spirit of partnership and commitment to children in our community” for her work with young dancers. She’s breathed ballet from every angle and worked in early childhood education, for non-profits supporting kids, and as a university English teacher as a Peace Corps volunteer.

Once Upon a Dance 2021/2022 Awards: Mom’s Choice Gold Award, Family Choice Award, Royal Dragonfly First Place, PenCraft Award First Place, Firebird First Place, Pinnacle: Best Book Juvenile Fiction, Independent Press Award Winner, International Impact Book Award Winner, Outstanding Creator Awards Winner, Readers Favorite Certified Great Read, Indie’s Today 5-Star Recommended, The Wishing Shelf 5-Star, Literary Titan 5-Star Award.

Friday, October 28, 2022

A magical adventure in gratitude & dance

Frankie, lives with Auntie Duke on Anorac Island in the middle of the sparkling sea. It’s Frankie’s birthday and the stories of a magic feather that grants one birthday wish to whoever finds it (but only on their birthday) sparks Frankie’s determination. She's going to find it. Rumors say the magic feather it is hidden in the east, and Frankie sets out to claim her wish to become a famous dancer.

Before Frankie steps out on her journey. Auntie Duke who wished on the feather when she was Frankie’s age, shares a word of advice. “First, use your mind, body, and imagination as you wander in the wonder. Second ask for help along the way. And third, keep an open mind. Things are not always as they seem.”

During Frankie’s quest for the feather, each of these themes unfold in teachable moments and include a Dance-It-Out level that offers dance-inspired movements. Kids, caretakers, and teachers can copy these pictured activities which encourage participation. They are designed by an award-winning ballet teacher, Ballerina Konora, to develop body awareness and movement knowledge while enhancing the story on a new level.

Frankie’s Wish: A Wander in the Wonder is an interactive story about a child’s quest to find the magic blue feather which can make a birthday wish come true. Written by award-winning mother daughter team (One Upon a Dance) with 4-7-year-olds in mind, this upbeat story unfolds into a journey in movement and learning to believe in yourself. Frankie meets up with a dinosaur, gorilla, and an eagle to help her along on her quest. These creatures are not scary, but unusual tools used to get across concepts of gratitude, asking for help, friendship, and self-affirmation. It’s a fun read on more than one level. I recommend this charming book for early readers interested in dance, gymnastics, or yoga, and those who enjoy a fun uplifting story with rhyming riddles to figure out. The authors have done a fine job creating a main character most kids can relate to and a story adults will enjoy sharing with children they know. I give it 5 stars.

As BookHookup, I am a long-time book reviewer and I received Frankie's Wish as a free review copy and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. This review is posted in collaboration with #Blackberry Book Tours. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.