BLOG TOUR: Dancing with Daddy by Anitra Rowe Schulte
ABOUT THE BOOK
Elsie can’t wait to go to her first father-daughter dance. She picked out the perfect dress and has been practicing swirling and swaying in her wheelchair. Elsie’s heart pirouettes as she prepares for her special night. With gestures, smiles, and words from a book filled with pictures, she shares her excitement with her family. But when a winter storm comes, she wonders if she’ll get the chance to spin and dance her way to a dream come true.
★“Refreshingly, Elsie’s disability is seamlessly presented as simply another aspect of family life…As she swings and sways in her father’s arms, her forehead against his, their love is palpable; Chen’s illustrations fairly glow with affection…A heartwarming portrayal of a family embracing disability.” ―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“[Anitra] Rowe Schulte uses accessible, rhythmic language…conveying Elsie’s thoughts in pink- and red-colored text. Light-filled digital illustrations by [Ziyue] Chen make use of differing angles and dynamic shots, emphasizing the love the family has for one another.” ―Publishers Weekly
“This sweet story is a great addition to any diverse and inclusive library.” ―TODAY
ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR
Ziyue Chen is the Deaf illustrator of a number of children’s books, including Mela and the Elephant by Dow Phumiruk, How Women Won the Vote by Susan Campbell Bartoletti, and Rocket-Bye Baby: A Spaceflight Lullaby by Danna Smith. She lives with her loved ones in Singapore. Find out more at www.ziyuechen.com or follow her @ziyuechen on Instagram.
REVIEW
Dancing with Daddy provides a tender story about a young girl with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) who is thrilled to be getting ready to go to a daddy-daughter dance with her sisters and father. She chooses a beautiful red dress that matches her dad's soccer jersey and a beautiful red bow to go with it. Elsie uses her book of symbols and words to communicate with her family. Elsie can't help worrying that the falling snow will cause the dance to be cancelled. When the dance turns out to be a go, Elsie and her sisters set off with her dad for an exciting night of family and fun. Not only is this a sweet story about a father and his daughters, but it's a great reminder that having a disability doesn't stop one from having a wonderful life. I appreciated the way that Elsie's need for a wheelchair, feeding tube, and communication book were simply a part of the story, they were not a focus of the story. The lovely illustrations beautifully compliment the text. The text representing Elsie's thoughts was highlighted in a reddish font giving the reader a glimpse into her thoughts and feelings. An wonderfully diverse title that many young children will enjoy.
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