BOOK MARKED
In the Spotlight
12 Children’s Books About the
Performing Arts
BY JENNIFER ROTHSCHILD, COLLECTION ENGAGEMENT LIBRARIAN,
ARLINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
In addition to being fun to participate in and watch, the performing arts hold many
benefits for children. They help teach teamwork, critical thinking, resilience, empathy and
communication, all while fostering creativity. These children’s books, including nonfiction
titles about popular performers, will engage readers with stories about dance, music,
comedy and stardom.

PICTURE BOOKS
afraid to tell her that she is not making nice
music with all of her “blurks!” and “quarks!”
However, Gerald knows that friends tell the
Written by Nancy Bo Flood,
truth, and when he does, he learns something
illustrated by Julianna Swaney
Eva longs to be a dancer, but she was born very surprising.

with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair.

Then she learns about Young Dance, a real ‘Ballerina Dreams:
inclusive dance company in the Twin Cities From War Orphan to Ballerina’
that teaches people of all physical abilities. Written by Michaela and Elaine
There, Eva is able to perform with all differ- DePrince, illustrated by
ent types of people.

Frank Morrison
Michaela DePrince was born in Sierra Leone
‘The Magic Flute’
and moved the U.S. after being adopted
by an American family. She is now a pro-
Written and illustrated
fessional ballet dancer, a journey detailed
by Christopher Raschka
With his trademark illustrative style, in this early reader memoir. Teen readers
Raschka retells Mozart’s opera for young should check out at her full-length book,
readers. Prince Tamino must rescue his love “Taking Flight.”
Pamina. Along the way he undergoes sev-
eral trials and is aided by a magic flute, an ‘Katie Woo, Star of the Show’
enchanted lock and more. Rashcka man- Written by Fran Manushkin,
ages to keep the grandeur and drama of the illustrated by Tammie Lyon
original story while still being accessible to Katie is sad when she’s cast as the earthworm
children. instead of the princess in the school play. She
wanted to be the star! She’s disappointed, but
‘We Will Rock Our Classmates’
she (and readers) will learn a valuable lesson in
how all the parts in a play are important in this
Written and illustrated
installment of the popular early reader series.

by Ryan T. Higgins
Penelope the T-Rex is back in this follow-up to
“We Do Not Eat Our Classmates.” She can’t MIDDLE GRADE
wait to rock out at the school talent show but ‘Better Nate Than Ever’
is full of self-doubt after one of her human Written by Tim Federle
classmates asks if dinosaurs can even play gui- Nate feels trapped in his small town of
tar. Luckily, her dad helps her see that being a Jankburg, Pennsylvania. When he sees a
dinosaur is only part of who she is.

casting call for an upcoming Broadway adap-
tation of “E.T.: The Musical,” he comes up
with a way to sneak to New York and make
EARLY READERS
his theater dreams come true. But first he
‘Listen to My Trumpet’
must deal with stage mothers, wacky casting
Written and illustrated by Mo Willems
Piggie has a new trumpet and cannot wait directors and his own dysfunctional family.

for Gerald the elephant to hear her play. Readers will rejoice to know Nate has more
Gerald appreciates Piggie’s enthusiasm but is adventures in subsequent books.

‘I Will Dance’
36 Washington FAMILY SEPTEMBER 2020