Recently, I came across a list of books for young boys who dance (while trying to see if I could find my blog on Google by searching for “boys dance”…to no avail). I never knew there were so many books available for young boys who dance. Julian is much too old for them now, but I wish I’d know about them when he was 3-8 or so.
Before posting the list, which comes from Amazon.com, I have to say this: As a writer, and aspiring nonfiction book author, I encourage you not to buy these books from Amazon, but, instead, to purchase them from your local bookseller – the smaller the better. First, Internet bookstores threaten to put your local booksellers out of business. Second, Amazon, along with its subsidiary, BookSurge (a Print-on-demand publishing company), is trying to create a monopoly in the print-on-demand industry. They are forcing authors to use BookSurge under threat of not having a “buy button” available on Amazon. That means that authors who use another print-on-demand publisher, or some other type of self-publishing method, will not be able to sell their books on Amazon as they have been able to do in the past. I do not support their efforts. I hope you won’t either by boycotting Amazon whenever possible. Ask your local bookseller to order these books for you…
Anyway, after that lecture, I’ve included the titles below:
1. The Only Boy in Ballet Class by Denise Gruska
2. Ballerino Nate by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
3. Dancing Larry by Daniel Manus Pinkwater
4. Song and Dance Man by Karen Ackerman
5. Alvin Ailey by Andrea Pinkney
6. Knockin’ on Wood: Starring Peg Leg Bates by Lynne
7. Happy Feet: The Savoy Ballroom Lindy Hoppers and Me by Richard Michelson
8. Dancing to Freedom: The True Story of Mao’s Last Dancer by Li Cunxin
9. The Dancer Who Flew: A Memoir of Rudolf Nureyev by Linda Maybarduk
10. Sparks Fly High: The Legend of Dancing Point by Mary Quattlebaum
11. Oliver Button Is a Sissy by Tomie dePaola
12. Sailor Boy Jig by Margaret Wise Brown
13. The Dancing Tiger by Malachy
14. James the Dancing Dog by Linda Maybarduk
15. Another Celebrated Dancing Bear by Gladys Scheffrin-Falk
16. Frank Was a Monster Who Wanted to Dance by Keith Graves
17. The Boy Who Wanted to be a Dancer by Rod Gambassi
18. Rap A Tap Tap (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books) by Leo Dillon
19. Jose! Born to Dance: The Story of Jose Limon (Tomas Rivera Mexican-American Children’s Book Award (Awards)) by Susanna Reich
20. Brothers of the Knight (Picture Puffin Books) by Debbie Allen
21. Max (Reading Rainbow Book) by Rachel Isadora
22. Dumpy La Rue (Owlet Book) by Elizabeth Winthrop
23. Boy, Can He Dance! by Eileen Spinelli
24. Papa Lucky’s Shadow by Niki Daly
25. Flying Feet: A Story of Irish Dance by Anna Marlis Burgard
26. Savion!: My Life in Tap by Savion Glover
27. Pepito’s Story by Eugene Fern
28. Peter Penny’s Dance by Janet Quin-Harkin
29. Dancing To America by Ann Morris
30. What If They Saw Me Now? by Jean Ure
31. Arthur Mitchell by Tobi Tobias
And here is the Amazon list: http://www.amazon.com/Dance-Boys-Dancers-Young-Readers/lm/R1ANTS56BK46X2. It says you can access more titles as well.
I am not endorsing any of these books. I have not read them. That said, I’d go for the ones that don’t involve animals. I’d want my young son reading about other real boys or men who dance.
A book that I may recommend that maybe for a older age group, would be Billy Elliot by Melvin Burgess.
I love the idea of getting a few books that support boy dancers. My son is such an excellent dancer and I really think a few books could be just what he needs to encourage him. He is at the point in his dance program that he is really looking to outside sources to become a better dancer. I’ll have to select a few books I think he would like. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! I’ve been trying to remember the name of Jean Ure’s “What If They Saw Me Now?” for years. It also has a sequel “A Proper Little Nooryeff” and there is another great boy ballet book by Jean Ure called “Dance For Two”. Great reads.
Great idea, we need a more books for young boys who a dance!
I would recommend The Royal Ballet School diaries series for older children.
I forgot, The Royal Ballet School Diaries is not a boys’ book series… sorry!