Luna Loves Dance

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School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 3--Luna loves to dance, but when she goes to her first dance class, she falls and is not invited to join. She worries that she will never be a real dancer. The loving family--its members have many shades of skin--that surrounds her keeps encouraging her until she finds the joy in dancing once again. The art really shines in this sweet story; the pictures are vivid and brightly colored with lots of details in a wide variety of cultural settings, including a Broadway musical, an Afro-Caribbean street festival, and the grandparents' living room. The overarching theme of persistence and doing the things that make you happy will ring true with many. There is also a consistent metaphorical aspect to the story about how Luna doesn't see the colors as vividly when she's not dancing, and this could make a a good bridge to discussion about figurative language. VERDICT This sweet story and its uplifting messages is an easy purchase to recommend.--Debbie Tanner, S. D. Spady Montessori Elem., FL

Booklist Review

Whether at her dad's or her mom's, dancing makes Luna happy--"like all the colors brighten, like sunlight sparkles behind every cloud." And she's excited for dance class tryouts and the chance to become a "real dancer." But Luna's best efforts to follow her instructor's routine--"Double-tap-spin / duck-dive / twirl-leap"--keep ending in "Trip. Fall," leaving her disheartened, despite her parents' reassurances. Though she continues dancing and has fun--"shimmies" while at a musical with Mom; doing the Charleston with Grandpa and Nana; the Rockaway at festive Carnival with Dad--Luna still feels it's not being a "real dancer." But at a family gathering, when music starts, Luna finds her groove again, and she shines, getting everyone exuberantly dancing and sharing "how to leap, leap, leap over hard times, with joy bounding in your heart." Lively, lyrical prose is well-matched by the vibrant, animated illustrations, expressively depicting cute Luna (who is biracial), her supportive family, and the inclusive array of other kids and adults. This charming title provides an encouraging, uplifting message, primarily about surmounting self-doubt and finding delight in creative self-expression.

Kirkus Book Review

Luna loves all kinds of dance, but can she ever be a "real dancer"? Luna twirls at Dad's house and leaps at Mom's. Dancing makes her world bright. On the day of her dance tryout, Luna believes that if she does well, that'll mean she's a real dancer. The teacher shows the class a routine, and Luna looks worried. When it is Luna's turn, she trips. She gets up and tries again. And falls. She tries again. And stumbles. Luna watches the rest of the class do well. Her parents assure her she can still dance, but Luna thinks she will never be a real dancer. Luna keeps dancing with her family and friends, but every time they tell her she's dancing, she counters with, "But I'll never be a real dancer." Finally, at her cousin's birthday party, Luna's song is played. Luna teaches friends to shimmy and Dad to pirouette. She does the Crazy Legs with Mom and spins and does the Rockaway with Nana and Grandpa. The "real dancer" language fades away as Luna leaps "over hard times, with joy," on a spread full of color and laughter. This story taps into fears about being good enough and delivers a lovely message about doing what brings joy. The illustrations use color and background to highlight Luna's moods. Luna is a brown girl with puffy hair; Mom is a blonde White woman and Dad is a Black man with a curly Afro. Just might have readers getting up to dance. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.