1996 Winner: DANCE WITH ME

This is the 1996 winner of the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award:

Esbensen, Barbara Juster. 1995. Dance with Me. New York: HarperCollins.

Here is a Digital Trailer created for DANCE WITH MY by graduate student Gwen Waller.

Here is a Readers' Guide for DANCE WITH ME created by graduate student Melani L. Hopkins.

1. Summary

This festive book of poems is filled with exciting ways to interpret the nature around us and contribute it to dancing. It can be found in the way the wind moves, the way bubbles float, or even the way shadows move. Many times we do not pay attention to little things that make up a big part of our everyday lives but the little things actually create big moments in life.

2. Awards and reviews

*LEE BENNETT HOPKINS POETRY AWARDS
*NCTE EXCELLENCE IN POETRY FOR CHILDREN AWARD for Esbensen's body of work

Starred review in KIRKUS: “A lovely collection of 15 poems, graced with iridescent pastel illustrations.”

Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “In 15 poems, all manner of dancers move to all sorts of rhythms and reveal unexpected images in the most delightful ways.

3. Questions to ask before reading

Who might the characters be dancing with?
Why are the characters dancing?
What kind of dancing might they be doing?
Can you predict what the poems are about from reading the title?
Are they dancing to entertain or as a hobby?

4. Suggestions for reading poems aloud

Make sure everyone is sitting in a place they will be able to see the pictures.
Make sure the story is read loud enough for everyone to hear.
Use inferencing to keep the students enthused about what might happen next.
Allow the students help read along the way by filling in words together.

5. Follow up activities

Celebrate Earth Day by reading Earth Dance by Joanne Ryder and acting out the movements.
For math concepts had students create movements to elements they have already learned.
Create a class poem and make dance move to go with each line.
Have students skip to music while doing different patterns and dance moves for health and physical activities.

6. Related web sites

Web sites
http://www.best-childrens-books.com/childrens-poetry-books.html
http://www.carolyncrimi.com/pages/tessa.html
http://www.jacketflap.com/persondetail.asp?person=13532

Blogs
http://wildrosereader.blogspot.com/2008/01/poetry-friday-two-centos.html
http://www.joannmacken.com/events.htm
http://poetryforchildren.blogspot.com/2007/04/birth-date-of-poet-barbara-juster.html