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



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‘Rhythm Ride: A Road Trip
Through the Motown Sound’
Written by Andrea Davis Pinkney
treats him like the new kid, except the Backstagers.

Jory’s a bit reluctant to join the lowly stage crew
but soon discovers there’s a whole new world back-
stage—literally. But in order to put on the best show
ever, they have to deal with the supernatural first.

Luckily, there are more installments of this graphic
novel series, as well as prose chapter books.

In 1969, Berry Gordy converted his garage into
a recording studio and recruited neighborhood
kids to come sing on his brand-new record label.

Those neighborhood kids became household
names, and Gordy’s label created a sound that
helped define an era. Pinkney takes readers on a ‘If I Stay’
journey though the music of the time period.

Written by Gayle Forman
After a car accident kills her parents and brother,
‘Stand Up, Yumi Chung!’
classical cellist Mia lies in a coma in the hospital.

Suspended between life and death, surrounded by
Written by Jessica Kim
Yumi suffers from many #shygirlproblems but her friends and extended family, Mia flashes back on
dreams of being a stand-up comedian. She has a her life, especially her relationship with her rocker
notebook of material—she’s just looking for a stage. boyfriend and the role music played in their lives.

When a comedy camp taught by one of her idols
mistakes her for one of its campers, she jumps at the ‘Failing Up: How to Take Risks,
chance. Only now she’s caught in a web of lies, and Aim Higher, and Never Stop
she’ll need her new self-confidence to get out of it. Learning’
YOUNG ADULT
Written by Leslie Odom Jr.

Before starring in “Hamilton,” Leslie Odom Jr
put in years of work and study to become the best
actor and singer he could be. Using stories from
his life, he shares advice and questions for read-
Written by James Tynion,
ers to think over as they go about creating their
illustrated by Rian Sygh
When Jory transfers to St. Genesius, everyone own journeys, no matter the field. T
‘The Backstagers:
Rebels Without Applause’
WashingtonFAMILY.com 37