Dance With Me

Description

A ballerina in a music box loves nothing more than to dance. Her days are filled with joy as she dances for her little girl owner, and also pops out of her box for some extra fun and excitement when the little girl isn't looking! But when her owner grows up and isn't a little girl anymore, who will dance with the ballerina then? Dance with Me is a gorgeous story about treasured possessions and the memories they hold.

Penny Harrison is a lifestyle journalist, garden writer, book reviewer and children's author. She has contributed to various Australian magazines, newspapers, guides and books, writing about everything from raising toddlers to raising chickens. Penny lives in a rambling old garden on the edge of the Yarra Valley with her husband and two young children, where she loves filling the house with books and music. Gwynneth Jones drew all through her maths book at school, so left to study art at TAFE and then majored in Plant and Wildlife Illustration at the University of Newcastle. Since then, Gwynneth has been imagining and drawing madly, exhibiting and holding market stalls, and creating picture books.

"A sweet story with fun, sadness and happiness once again" * School Days * "I can't help but hear Frank Mill's, Music Box Dancer in my head when I read about the beautiful pink clad ballerina who 'lived in a small, wooden box." * Boomerang Books Blog * "Dance with Me is a delightful, slightly sad, story of growing up, and the toys that are left behind. Happily, in this story, the dancer survives until the next generation of owner falls in love with her. The illustrations, by Gwynneth Jones, use watercolour and outlines with soft pastel colours for the ballerina and her world, and bolder colours when she ventures out into the world looking for a dance partner. Likely to appeal to young dancers, especially those with a fondness for music boxes.." * Aussie Reviews * "I loved reading this book with my daughter and discussing childhood keepsakes and what she would pass on to her children.." * The Mummy Project * "Dance With Me: a gentle, heartfelt tale of childhood treasures, the sadness of their loss and the joy of history repeating itself." * Kids' Book Review * "A great opportunity to talk about memories with our children as well as what they love enough to want to keep for their children, creating bonds across generations. * The Bottom Shelf * "I know that giving human traits to nonhuman objects can produce powerful emotions ... Dance with Me pulls on those same heartstrings." * NC Teacher Stuff * "The gentle narrative, enchanting whimsical illustrations of golden lines of music, leaping tiny ballerinas in search of running deer for partners, contrasting with softly blurred pine trees, all combine to create a warm, rich, inviting fantasy that transcends years and promises eternal youth." * The Picturebook Shelf * "I think many little girls will be excited by the idea of the ballerina in the music box coming to life. When she is abandoned by her owner, she dances out of her box and goes looking for someone to dance with" * Reading Time * "Lovely and nostalgic, the ballerina's story continues even after the lid on the box is closed." * Foreword Reviews * "This book is about a ballerina who wants to make new friends, because a big girls does not want to play with her... I like her dress because it is purple/ I like twirling and whirling" * Schools Out * Jones's illustrations, which feature soft lines and vibrant colors, successfully convey the graceful movements of the ballerina. Most striking is when the toy animals morph into their real-life counterparts, resulting in life-like, detailed depictions. "I liked the illustrations and how, as she explores the bedroom, the animals she saw were not real animals, just toys or a backpack, but when she talks to them, they are real ... I would recommend this book to little kids who love ballerinas or like to do ballet." * Dance With Me * "A delightful book ... with beautiful illustrations and lots of opportunities for discussions" -- Kim Walters