Tallulah's Tap Shoes

February 1, 2015
To toe or to tap-that is the question for Tallulah. Tallulah happily looks forward to summer dance classes except for one hitch. She will have to take tap lessons. Younger brother Beckett is eager for them, but Tallulah is disdainful. As expected, she does well in ballet, even receiving compliments from the teacher. A girl in her class, Kacie, is also not a happy camper. She is a tap dancer and loves it because it is "so much cooler." In her continuing tales of the Brooklyn balletomane, Singer sets up a see-saw scenario that sees Tallulah struggle with tapping and Kacie grapple with ballet. Self-confidence takes a direct hit as both girls refuse to face less-than-stellar class performances. When Kacie turns up as a surprise dinner guest, Beckett prods the two girls into admitting their fears. They help each other with steps and exchange friendship bracelets. Boiger continues to provide lovely watercolor paintings; summery greens for the camp setting and for costumes are just the right touch. Endpapers depict the four moves in tap's flap step. Kacie demonstrates them at the beginning of the book, and Tallulah joins her at the conclusion. And, of course, Tallulah's front-cover green-and-pink tutu is satisfyingly glittery. The ballerina-to-be explores new and challenging steps-successfully. (Picture book. 4-7)

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March 1, 2015

PreS-Gr 2-Tallulah's looking forward to dance camp this summer. She and her little brother will get to take ballet every day, but she also has to take tap and Tallulah's not looking forward to that. She has been taking ballet for a while, but she's never taken tap before and will be a "very beginning beginner." On the first day, she meets Kacie who isn't very good at ballet but is the best tap dancer in the class. At first Tallulah feels bad because Kacie is being praised while she is constantly being corrected during tap class, but over time the girls learn they have a lot to teach each other. Young readers will learn about the importance of being patient and open-minded when it comes to trying new things. The text is complemented with soft and expressive watercolor illustrations. VERDICT This book will appeal to young ballerinas and tap dancers.-Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga Public Library System, OH

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
"Ballet girl" Tallulah loves dance camp...except for tap class, where she's frustrated and self-conscious about being "the worst student." Then fellow camper Kacie--whose tap skills Tallulah envies--admits her similar struggles in ballet class. Soft watercolor illustrations ably capture the woodland setting, the various dance movements, and both girls' heightened emotions in this relatable tale of learning new things.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)