A New Year's Reunion

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Yu Li-Qiong /Zhu Cheng-Liang
PUBLISHER: Hsin Yi Pulbications PUBLICATION DATE: 2008
AWARDS: New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book 2011
GENRE: Fiction READING LEVEL: 2nd grade
BRIEF OVERVIEW: Maomao’s father works far away and only comes home for Chinese New Year.
INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Explain that the dragon dance scares away the evil spirits and ushers in a happy new year.
Make dragon masks and make up a dragon dance.
REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Rhonda Herb, Valdosta State University ECSE
LABELS: China, Family, Fine Arts, Social Studies

Song and Dance Man

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Karen Ackerman/Stephen Gammell

PUBLISHER: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.                  PUBLICATION DATE:  1988

AWARDS: Caldecott 1989
GENRE: Realistic Fiction/Picture Book
 READING LEVEL: Ages 6-8

BRIEF OVERVIEW: Three Grandchildren visit their grandfather and he pulls out all of his old dancing shoes and hats and puts on a show.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Have your own tap dancing show by tapping a coin to the bottom of the students’ shoes and having them come up to the “stage” to perform their dance just like Grandpa in the story.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Katie Holliday, Valdosta State University, ECSE

LABELS: Dancing, Award-winning, History

Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae

Copyright: 2012        Reading Level: PreK-3rd grade
Book Description: Giraffes Can't Dance is a touching tale of Gerald the giraffe, who wants nothing more than to dance. With crooked knees and thin legs, it's harder for a giraffe than you would think. Gerald is finally able to dance to his own tune when he gets some encouraging words from an unlikely friend.

Integrated Ideas: Students will describe the story’s character, Gerald, and the other jungle animals through sign based on the text and illustrations within the story. The students will explain the struggle Gerald faced when trying to dance and the effect the other animals had on his self confidence to dance on his own. As a class, the students will learn and attempt the dance styles listed within the story from each jungle animal. Each student will then create their own dance to share and teach to their fellow classmates that expresses their individuality and emotions. 

Reviewer's name and affiliation: Bethany A. Loggins, Valdosta State University

A Young Dancer: Life of an Ailey Student

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Valerie Gladston and Jose Ivey

PUBLISHER:Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition   
PUBLICATION DATE     2009 

GENRE: Non-fiction informational picture book                            

READING LEVEL: Ages 9-13

BRIEF OVERVIEW: A Young Dancer: Life of an Ailey Student is a book about a young 13 year girl with multiple artistic talents and her journey as she prepares for a big performance.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Students will write a paper about what they plan on being when they get older.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Briana Henderson Valdosta State University, Section A

Cha Cha Chimps

Author: Julia Durango      Illustrator: Eleanor Taylor
Copyright: 2006
Genre: Concept book
Reading Level: 2-6yrs
Book Description: Rhyming book and incorporates counting (1-10).  Listeners can sing along while counting. This book is great for getting students warmed up and it has beautiful illustrations.
  Integrated Activity: (kindergarten/1st grade) Use this book as an activity during math to give students a chance to interact and do something out of the ordinary. Students can sing along and clap as we read the book. 
  Reviewers name/affiliation: Emma McGee-VSU