Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 12/15/2016 Anyone familiar with Singer’s poetry books for children will smile in recognition at the upbeat tone of this new, dance-centric collection. Each poem is titled after a type of dance: cha-cha, fox-trot, hip-hop, hora, samba, two-step, and many more. “Merengue” reads, “We sway our hips, / we shift our legs, / like we’re whipping / lots of eggs”; while “Square Dance” goes, “Did that caller give a cue? / Don’t promenade me. Shoo, boy, shoo!” An adult who knows the rhythms of these dances will be able to read the poems out loud and mimic the rhythm inherent in the writing. A CD (included) also provides this element, which is probably a requirement for full appreciation of the poems. The beautiful illustrations exude the energy of the dancers as they twirl and spin across the pages, and the happy array of faces reflects the wide range of cultures and traditions that the poems draw upon. The message about how music and dance can unite us is a happy and timely one. - Copyright 2016 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 01/01/2017 K-Gr 3—Poetry master Singer is back with another unique picture book poetry collection, this time focusing on different styles of dance, from the cha-cha to the bhangra, and the square dance to the samba. The poems are all narrated by different characters, mostly children, participating in or observing a dance style. The language and rhythm are precise, and each selection is written to the beat of that dance style without a single misstep. The text simply begs to be read aloud. The poems are told from the perspectives of those nervous to dance, those amazed by a dancer's agility and grace, and those downright disgusted with a gym class requirement: "I'm flunking out of square dance!" Valiant's visuals are superb. Most pages contain full, vividly colored spreads with overlaid text. The dancers are illustrated with joy, in a playful style reminiscent of that of Vanessa Brantley-Newton, from the conga flash mob at the mall to the bird's-eye view of the concentric circles of the hora. The characters' expressions are full of life, and there is diversity of race and age reflected on every page. The book closes with short and understandable explanations of each dance and its rhythm. A CD is also included. VERDICT An absolute delight to read, these poems will have children and adults moving to the beat. A charming addition to poetry and music collections.—Clara Hendricks, Cambridge PublicLibrary, MA - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.