Are you looking to add a few stories about tap dancing to your collection of children’s books? If so, I might be able to help. I know of several that would fit in with such a theme. Each one is suitable for preschoolers and kindergarteners. Here’s a quick peek at five of them:
“The Boy Who Loved to Shim-Sham Shimmy”
If you ask me, M.D. Osborne’s book “The Boy Who Loved to Shim-Sham Shimmy” is a sweet tale. It is about a tap dancing boy and the wonderful relationship that he has with his grandfather. It also touches upon issues related to facing your fears and learning to how to handle disappointment. You may also want to consider purchasing a Limberjack Dancing Doll to go along with the book. You can find them available for purchase through the Etsy website. Based on my experience, the kids are likely to get a kick out of the doll as well.
“Rap a Tap Tap: Here’s Bojangles – Think of That!”
In my opinion, Leo and Diane Dillon’s book “Rap a Tap Tap: Here’s Bojangles – Think of That!” is a great read too. I like the book because it is well written and provides easily digestible information about one of tap dancing’s greatest men. The kids will undoubtedly appreciate the lovely illustrations and rhythm of the text. If you want to combine the book with a lesson plan that focuses on Bill Robinson, you can find supplementary materials posted on the American Tap Dance Foundation’s website.
“Tap Dance Fever”
Pat Brisson’s “Tap Dance Fever” is a book that your kids might enjoy as well. The storyline focuses on a young lady who spends an enormous amount of time tap dancing. The children in my life found her charming and the whole story to be quite humorous. I also thought that the illustrations were great.
I’d also heartily recommend picking up a copy of Sarah Lynn’s book “Tip-Tap Pop.” What I thoroughly enjoyed about the story was the way it weaved the subjects of tap dancing, Alzheimer’s disease, aging and the special relationship children have with their grandparents all into one. I also thought that it was a touching story and the illustrations were perfect.
On a side note, I’d like to mention that if you know of a child that is dealing with an aging grandparent’s memory loss, there are other great books that address the issue as well. You can find some of their titles posted on the Alzheimer’s Association’s website.
“Gabriella’s Tap Shoes”
Finally, I’d suggest that you check out Karen Callaway Williams’ book “Gabriella’s Tap Shoes.” I thought that the book’s storyline and illustrations were perfect for preschoolers and kindergarteners. I also loved how the main character utilizes her problem solving skills to create a pair of homemade tap shoes. Thus, you could feasibly use the book as a transition to dance as well as problem solving activities.
Source: Personal Experience
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