Picture books like this one make me think that I don't feature picture book celebrations of the arts nearly enough. So, I did some key word searches and found quite a few music-performance, visual arts, and even dance-related posts. across a decade of book love shared here. I felt both pleased and challenged to seek out and share more. At the end of this post I'll link to some of those others, and encourage you to suggest titles in the comments for me to explore- from current releases to long-time favorites.
.
 |
| Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 2021 |
WHEN LANGSTON DANCES, written by Kaija Langley and illustrated by Keith Mallett, captures the exuberance and inspiration that dance, music, and other expressive arts serve in our lives. The cover introduces us to Langston in a gorgeously-executed ballet leap. The endpapers and opening pages are subtly-swirling sweeps of intense, passionate color. Then, on the first page of text and image, we learn that "Langston liked basketball, but he adored ballet."
I urge you to take a mindful pause on that first page, whether reading it for your adult selves or with young company. Appreciate Langston's leaping dunk of the ball into the hoop. Call to mind the muscular grace of athletes. Notice the nuance of Langston's feet and hands and the arch of his neck. The illustration captures Langston's FEELING about what his body is doing, sharing his joyful self-expression in movements, and his satisfying results.
Then, and only then, turn the page to find Langston seated with his mother in the dark, enthralled by an Alvin Ailey Dance Company performance, bodies soaring across the stage. Front and center on that stage is a powerful and graceful, muscular and magnificent male dancer whose skin color resembles Langston's. There, in that darkened venue, Langston's dream glows to life and lights his face.
He will dance.
When someone says, "Boys don't dance like that," Langston confidently responds that yes, they do, because he has witnessed the thrill of what dance can be. With a mother who supports his dreams and neighbors who admire his efforts, he arrives at a dance studio. There, he glances at but passes other classes-- tap, hip-hop, African-- until he reaches the ballet room, kicks off his sneakers, and joins the girls at the barre.
There is so much to love in the characters of Langston, his mother, his instructor, and his neighborhood community that it makes me smile to imagine your own discovery of this book. Young people today have grown up with programming (SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE) and social media (YouTube and TikTok) in which dancing (by any gender or gender expression) is showcased and celebrated. Even so, males are most often featured in modern dance and improvisations as compared to classical ballet. This is a book that could provide a handheld experience, perhaps as powerful as the in-person experience of Langston, the character. Let's make sure that every child, everywhere, can see themselves in the arts.
Here are some posts from the past that will support that effort:
LET'S DANCE, by Valerie Bolling, Boyds Mills Press, 2020.
BEA AT BALLET, by Rachel Isadora, Nancy Paulson Books, 2012
A DANCE LIKE STARLIGHT, by Kristi Dempsey, Philomel Books, 2014
There are plenty of other posts about dance and other arts, so feel free to use the search box on the right menu bar>>>.
I sincerely welcome suggestions in comments about other favorite picture book titles of yours, of any kind, but most especially about arts, artists, and creative expression.
No comments:
Post a Comment