Book picks similar to
First Ballet by Deanna Caswell


picture-books
ballet
picture-book
poetry

A Pig Is Big


Douglas Florian - 2000
    What is big? Join Douglas Florian and a decidedly big pink pig as they travel around town, across a continent, and through the universe, taking a look at things that are big bigger biggest!Bulletin Blue Ribbon Best of 2000 Award

Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet


Jane O'Connor - 2011
    After all, it's all about mermaids, and who knows how to be a fancy, glamorous mermaid better than Fancy Nancy herself?But when another ballerina wins the coveted role of the mermaid, Nancy is stuck playing a dreary, dull tree. Can Nancy bring fancy flair to her role, even though it isn't the one she wanted? And when disaster strikes right before the big ballet, who will step into the spotlight?Perfect for fans of the Eloise and Olivia books.Ooh la la! Fancy Nancy is starring in her own fabulous TV show on Disney Junior. READ THE BOOKS THAT STARTED IT ALL!Fancy NancyFancy Nancy and the Posh PuppyFancy Nancy: Bonjour, ButterflyFancy Nancy: Splendiferous ChristmasFancy Nancy and the Fabulous Fashion BoutiqueFancy Nancy and the Mermaid BalletFancy Nancy: Fanciest Doll in the UniverseFancy Nancy and the Wedding of the CenturyFancy Nancy 10th Anniversary EditionFancy Nancy: Saturday Night SleepoverFancy Nancy: Oodles of Kittens

Mother Goose


Tasha Tudor - 1944
    The noted artist illustrates her own selection of seventy-six traditional nursery rhymes.

Some Birds


Matt Spink - 2016
    Some birds are caged, but most birds are FREE. A much better life, I’m sure you’ll agree! Swooping and squawking, flapping and fluttering, there are many different kinds of birds in the world, all with their own special traits and abilities. Some Birds celebrates the colors and shapes of beaks and feathers with a rollicking, rhyming text and intricate design. The lively illustrations with a mod, retro feel are full of style and mesmerizing detail.Some Birds is a lovely gift that will have children and adults tweeting for more from a promising new talent in the design world.

The Circus Ship


Chris Van Dusen - 2009
    Staggering onto a nearby island, they soon win over the wary townspeople with their kind, courageous ways. So well do the critters blend in that when the greedy circus owner returns to claim them, villagers of all species conspire to outsmart the bloated blowhard. With buoyant rhymes and brilliantly caricatured illustrations evoking the early nineteenth century, Chris Van Dusen presents a hugely entertaining tale about the bonds of community — and a rare hidden-pictures spread for eagle-eyed readers of all ages.

All the Things I Love About You


LeUyen Pham - 2010
    But most of all, she just loves him, no matter what.Bestselling author and illustrator LeUyen Pham combines her experience as a mother and her proven storytelling skills in a humorous and heartfelt love letter of a book. In All the Things I Love About You, Mama lists the reasons she loves her little boy: the way his hair sticks up in the morning, the way he says "Mama" (even in the middle of the night), and the way he laughs. Simply written and beautifully illustrated, All the Things I Love About You honestly speaks to the unconditional love between a mother and her child. Children and parents alike will treasure this heartwarming book and, in reading it together, appreciate the small actions that make love grow stronger every day.

Pish, Posh, Said Hieronymus Bosch


Nancy Willard - 1991
    Caldecott Medalists Leo and Diane Dillon and their son, Lee, depict a most unusual household filled with pickle-winged fish, flying furniture, and other bizarre delights. “From its sumptuous paintings to its gilt frames to its quixotic verse, everything about this exquisitely produced tour de force bespeaks wit and elegance.”--Publishers Weekly

Dinosaurumpus


Tony Mitton - 2002
    The dinosaurs are coming. Get ready to romp. Join in with Triceratops, Stegosaurus, and friends as the dinosaurs stir up a Dinosaurumpus!Where can you find a Deinosuchus that practically pirouettes on its tail and a T-Rex that bounds gracefully through the air? Between the pages of Tony Mitton's Dinosaurumpus, where dinosaurs run, boom, shake, and shudder their way to the "sludgy old swamp" and rock the night away. Mitton's delightful rhyme and Parker-Rees's whimsical illustrations will make children want to join in the dance while they learn about some of their favorite prehistoric pals. By the time the romp is over, and the dinosaurs are fast asleep, kids won't be able to shake that jumping, thumping Dinosaurumpus beat!

My Dog Is as Smelly as Dirty Socks: And Other Funny Family Portraits


Hanoch Piven - 2007
    For example, her baby brother is "so "noisy he's as loud as a whistle, a horn, and even a fire truck! that she creates a picture of him with whistles for eyes, a horn mouth, and holding a fire truck. After the girl has described everyone in her family (including herself, in great detail), she asks, "What does "your "special family look like?" encouraging readers to create their own portraits. With a list of objects at the end of the book to use as a guide, this is the ideal choice for budding artists everywhere.Here's a wonderful exploration of simile and metaphor for young readers. And don't miss the companion book "My Best Friend is as Sharp as a Pencil"!"

That's Me Loving You


Amy Krouse Rosenthal - 2016
    Wherever you are,Wherever you go,Always rememberAnd always know. . . That feeling you always have in your heart?That's me loving you.Amy Krouse Rosenthal captures parents’ desire to be ever-present in this simple and touching poem offering reassurance of their love. Signs of affection can be found in the natural world around us—from a soft breeze to a shimmering star.

Piggy Pie Po


Audrey Wood - 2010
    In these three small and playful stories, he's sure to become every child's most unforgettable new friend. Award-winning team Audrey and Don Wood's picture books have been loved by children and parents for more than twenty-five years. With perfect pacing and exuberant illustrations, Piggy Pie Po introduces a new character that will be embraced by the next generation of little ones.

Red, White, and Boom!


Lee Wardlaw - 2012
    Fireflies flitSparklers spit Pinwheels spinGoosebump skin It’s the Fourth of July! Travel across the country for a city parade, a beach picnic, and fireworks in the park in this poetic celebration of the many cultures and traditions that make America’s birthday BOOM!

Boys Dance! (American Ballet Theatre)


John Robert Allman - 2020
    Created in partnership with the American Ballet Theatre and with the input of their company's male dancers, here is a book that shows ballet is for everyone.Written by the acclaimed author of A Is for Audra: Broadway's Leading Ladies from A to Z, this book subtly seeks to address the prejudice toward boys and ballet by showing the skill, hard work, strength, and smarts is takes to be a dancer. Fun and buoyant illustrations show boys of a variety of ages and ethnicities, making this the ideal book for any boy who loves dance. An afterword with photos and interviews with some of ABT's male dancers completes this empowering and joyful picture book.

Mommies Are Amazing


Meredith Costain - 2017
    This gentle rhyming text celebrates the special bond between mother and child. Adorable mommy cat and kitten illustrations make this completely charming!

Hit the Road, Jack


Robert Burleigh - 2012
    Written in the rhythm and spirit of Beat poetry, Hit the Road, Jack is an exuberant story of experiencing all the country has to offer with wide-eyed awe. Praise for Hit the Road, Jack STARRED REVIEW"It’s not a biography or an introduction to Kerouac’s work; instead, it’s a tribute to his spirit and his era."—Publishers Weekly, starred review"MacDonald’s golden-hued watercolors and pencil crayons present 1940s America as something of a paradise, with the neon diner signs and jazz clubs just as beautiful as the rolling hills and majestic mountains..."—Booklist"Joining the ranks of such age- and genre-defying picture books.. is this homage to Jack Kerouac."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books"The book pays homage to Kerouac while encouraging a love of the country, writing and wanderlust through Jack."—Reading Today"The illustrations look like something out of a 1950s picture book, and everything — the poetry and the drawings — convey a sense of exuberance and excitement.” —Wired's Geek Dad“Burleigh’s writing has a wonderful rhythm and the book reads aloud beautifully.” —Library Media Connection