My Mama Had a Dancing Heart

Gray, Libba Moore

ISBN 10: 0613289684 ISBN 13: 9780613289689

Publisher: Turtleback Books, 1999

Synopsis

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. A lyrical dance through the seasons. Fine lines scratched into drawings add a sense of motion beyond the dancing figures, the billowing clouds, rustling leaves, and splashed-in puddles.

About this title

About the Author:

Libba Moore Gray has been an actress, a dancer, and for twenty years a teacher of high school English and drama. Her poetry and short stories have appeared in a number of literary magazines, but "Miss Tizzy" is her first writing for children.

Ms. Gray's four children include a businessman, a ballerina, a teacher, and a professional clown. With her husband, Robert, she makes her home in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Colon has illustrated several highly acclaimed picture books, including the "New York Times" bestselling "Angela and the Baby Jesus" by Frank McCourt, Susanna Reich's "Jose! Born to Dance", and Jill Biden's "Don't Forget, God Bless Our Troops"." "Mr. Colon lived in Puerto Rico as a young boy and now resides in New City, New York, with his family.

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-Grade 2-This award-winning lyrical tale by Libba Moore Gray (Orchard, 1996) recounts the memories of a ballet dancer who sings the praises of her mama, who believed in celebrating the wonders of the natural world through dance. Gray follows the mother-daughter pair through the seasons as they rejoice in the pastoral setting of home, summer seashore, spring meadows, autumn orchard, and snowy hills. The rhythm of the poetic narration is given voice by Bonnie Kelly-Young, whose fluid chanting of the text brings to life the delight of the young storyteller. Illustrator Raul Colon used watercolor washes and colored pencils on watercolor paper, then etched the surface. The results reverberate with pulsing pastel colors, holding textures that invite readers to trace curving shapes and contours on the page. Composer Chris Kubie's soft, yet spirited orchestral accompaniment to the spoken words fully engages listeners in a truly sensual appreciation of this work. The page-turn signal on one side of the tape is the sound of rustling pages; the other side of the tape is an uninterrupted version. The fine aural quality of the recording allows listeners to discern clearly the dominant narration, the echoing melody, and the subtle page rustle. The resulting harmony of words, pictures, and music creates a noteworthy addition audiobook collections. Pair this title with Karen Ackerman's Song and Dance Man (Knopf, 1988) for a toe-tapping double act.
Mary Burkey, Grandview Heights City Schools, Columbus, OH
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Turtleback Books
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0613289684
• ISBN 13: 9780613289689
• Binding: School & Library Binding
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Colon Rolon