Dayana, Dax, and the Dancing Dragon: A Dance-It-Out Creative Movement Story for Young Movers #RWYK Certified Great Read – Book Review
Congratulations once again to the team of Once Upon a Dance!
Dayana, Dax, and the Dancing Dragon is our latest Certified great Read!
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Dayana, Dax, and the Dancing Dragon: A Dance-It-Out Creative Movement Story for Young Movers
Dayana’s new baby brother has finally arrived, and she can’t wait to teach him her best dance moves. There’s only one problem. Nobody told Dayana that babies can’t stand up. Luckily, baby Dax has a surprise in store that leaves his big sister in awe!
Each Dance-It-Out! The story is a kids’ dance performance for the imagination stage. Ballerina Konora joins the fun with dance suggestions on each page. Three books in one: readers can enjoy the story, act out the tale in their own way, or follow Konora’s suggested moves, designed by an award-winning ballet teacher to improve body coordination and teach dance fundamentals.
Dayana, Dax, and the Dancing Dragon is an independent story in the Dance-It-Out! collection and is ideal for kids 4-7. While there are some challenging movements, this story would make a great series introduction. Featured characters include Dayana (she/her), Dax (he/him), and Dragon Kadeena (nonbinary, no pronoons). Dance-It-Out!s are a bit above level (language-wise) as they are often initially enjoyed with a caregiver or teacher.
DANCE-IT-OUT HAS IT’S OWN WEBSITE – https://onceuponadance.com/dance-it-out-series-1
About the Author
Ballerina Konora is an apprentice with Ballet Idaho and previously danced with Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Professional Division and Texture Contemporary Ballet. Growing up, she danced iconic roles such as Sugar Plum Fairy and Cinderella.
Konora’s mother taught creative movement and ballet for decades and was recognized by her local City Council (2014) for embodying the spirit of partnership and commitment to children in our community for her work with young dancers. She’s breathed dance from every angle: child to pre-professional to adult ballet student, zoom student, dance teacher, competition mom, ballet-school parent-guilder, audience member, recital planner, business owner, and a Pacific Northwest Ballet board member.
HERE’S OUR REVIEW
Dayana, Dax, and the Dancing Dragon is the latest addition in the Dance-It-Out! collection and is ideal for kids 4-7. It is a sweet and endearing story and a fantastic thirteen-step dance routine to learn and enjoy. Dance is an important tradition in many cultures across the world, and dancers come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. This book features a nonwhite girl as the main character of the book. This will allow kids to explore the diverse world of dance, and all of the joy and beauty dance can bring, no matter who you are! It celebrates dance, movement, and expressing your feelings.
Dayana, Dax, and the Dancing Dragon follow a young girl named Dayana who loves to dance. Dayana can’t wait to welcome her new baby brother. She looks forwards to having Dax participate in her dance routines. However, she is disappointed to learn that babies can’t stand on their own. Let alone dancing. One day, while practicing her dance steps, she notices her baby brother laying on his back and a dragon(Kadeena) appears and hovers above Dax, perching on his hands and feet. Kadeena is no ordinary dragon. Instead of acting like a typical dragon, she dances! Dayana is surprised and delighted to find a dance partner and together they dance and discover so many exciting and challenging dance moves. “Dayana, Dax, and the Dancing Dragon” is playful, silly, and fun. It also has a lovely message about how simple things can give us joy.
Talking of the illustrations, these are bright and colorful and showcase Dayana, Dax, and a dancing dragon perfectly. There is so much to look at on each page.
Final Verdict
Dayana, Dax, and the Dancing Dragon is a delightful book, one that I am hopeful children and their parents/guardians will enjoy reading together. It’s not really a bedtime story due to the dance moves, but one that can be enjoyed throughout the day.
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