Here are our favorite picture books about dance for children. These titles can all be found in the Easy section of the library, unless otherwise noted. |
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Night of the Deer
by Mary Morel
When Arabella invites a pair of deer to her school's autumn dance, she is the only one who suspects the mysterious couple’s magical secret.
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Ballet Brown: Dancing With Heart
by Bellen Woodard
Bellen Woodward loves ballet and challenges the idea that dance is only pink, creating Ballet Brown to celebrate the many beautiful colors of dance.
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Bhangra Boogie
by Hena Khan
Talia dreams of dancing like the bhangra performers at the mehndi, and with a little encouragement from her dadi, she learns the courage to step onto the floor, and maybe even convince her dadi to join her.
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Dolly Parton's Billy the Kid Dances His Heart Out
by Dolly Parton
Billy the Kid faces his biggest challenge yet, dancing on stage, when he and his band prepare for Dolly Parton’s Doggy Dance Pawty, learning rhythm, courage, and maybe even love along the way.
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Bunheads
by Misty Copeland
Fascinated by a production of Coppélia, young Misty enrolls in ballet classes and finds support and encouragement from fellow dancers who become teammates in what becomes a show to remember.
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The Dance of Courage
by Misty Copeland
Misty and her bunhead crew dive into the ballet Don Quixote, and when her best friend Cat is sidelined by an injury, the friends learn lessons of courage, perseverance, and girl power in this inspiring tale of dreams and determination.
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A Happy Place
by Britta Teckentrup
Everyone is invited to dance with a host of animals on this magical, moonlit adventure following a tiny star.
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Lucas and the Capoeira Circle
by Joana Pastro
Nervous about his moving-up ceremony for Capoeira, the Brazilian martial art that combines music, dance, and acrobatics, Lucas is scared he'll lose his ginga—his courage and rhythm. Then, he remembers his Papai's powerful words: "Your ginga lives inside of you."
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Cesaria Feels the Beat
by Denise R. Adusei
While getting ready to perform at Carnival, Cesaria, a young deaf girl who hears the music through the soles of her feet, convinces all the other dancers to take off their shoes to feel what she feels.
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Dancing with Daddy
by Anitra Rowe Schulte
Excited for her first father-daughter dance, Elsie practices swirling and swaying in her wheelchair as she prepares for her special night. But when a winter storm arrives, she wonders if she will still get to dance her way to a dream come true.
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Big Tune: Rise of the Dancehall Prince
by Alliah L. Agostini
This joyful picture book, set in a vibrant Caribbean American neighborhood, follows a young Black boy with big dancing dreams as he learns the true meaning of courage, confidence and community.
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Pete the Cat and the Cool Cat Boogie
by Kim Dean
Practicing a totally groovy new dance, Pete the Cat is told by a grumpy neighbor that his moves are all wrong and he resolves to become a better dancer before receiving advice from wise Owl that he will be most cool when he is just himself.
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Everybunny Dance!
by Ellie Sandall
Rhythmic text and energetic illustrations combine in the story of a large group of cheerful dancing bunnies who play, sing and jitterbug on a grassy field and under the stars until a not-so-scary fox crashes the festivities.
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Amy Wu and the Ribbon Dance
by Kat Zhang
After seeing Chinese ribbon dancing for the first time, Amy Wu wants to throw a dance party but doesn't have the perfect ribbon until her mom comes to her rescue with a special story.
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Powwow Day
by Traci Sorell
Unable to dance at the powwow this year due to illness, River feels isolated and alone until she discovers the healing power of community, in this uplifting, contemporary Native American story.
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When Nana Dances
by Jane Yolen
Nana shimmies, bops, taps, and twirls her way to a shindig with her grandchildren, who love dancing with their grandmother.
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The Snow Dancer
by Addie K. Boswell
It's a snow day! Young dancer, Sofia, wakes up to a quiet, white world and makes her way to the park. But when the neighborhood kids scatter all of Sofia's beautiful silence, she finds a way to turn the noisy day into a beautiful celebration.
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Boys Dance
by John Robert Allman
Illustrations and rhyming text celebrate boys who dance, from their very first day of stretching at the barre while dreaming of the exciting roles they might one day play.
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How Do You Dance?
by Thyra Heder
People of all different shapes, sizes, and ages demonstrate how they like to dance, but one boy does not want to dance and wants to be left alone.
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