What is JacketFlap

  • JacketFlap connects you to the work of more than 200,000 authors, illustrators, publishers and other creators of books for Children and Young Adults. The site is updated daily with information about every book, author, illustrator, and publisher in the children's / young adult book industry. Members include published authors and illustrators, librarians, agents, editors, publicists, booksellers, publishers and fans.
    Join now (it's free).

Sort Blog Posts

Sort Posts by:

  • in
    from   

Suggest a Blog

Enter a Blog's Feed URL below and click Submit:

Most Commented Posts

In the past 7 days

Recent Posts

(tagged with 'Read and Romp Roundup')

Recent Comments

Recently Viewed

JacketFlap Sponsors

Spread the word about books.
Put this Widget on your blog!
  • Powered by JacketFlap.com

Are you a book Publisher?
Learn about Widgets now!

Advertise on JacketFlap

MyJacketFlap Blogs

  • Login or Register for free to create your own customized page of blog posts from your favorite blogs. You can also add blogs by clicking the "Add to MyJacketFlap" links next to the blog name in each post.

Blog Posts by Tag

In the past 7 days

Blog Posts by Date

Click days in this calendar to see posts by day or month
new posts in all blogs
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: Read and Romp Roundup, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 21 of 21
1. Read & Romp Roundup: April 2014

At long last, here is the April Read & Romp Roundup. I know the roundup is SUPER DUPER late this time, but to compensate I promise it's going to be a great one. Thanks to all who contributed!


Sandy at Unpacking the POWER of Picture Books starts us off with a bang! All in one post, she highlights the picture books A Dance like Starlight: One Ballerina's Dream, Bea at Ballet, On Your Toes: A Ballet ABC, and Oliver Button is a Sissy. Plus, she includes links to other reviews of A Dance Like Starlight, as well as to an interview with the author and illustrator of Flora and the Flamingo. Thanks to Cathy at Bildebok from Cathy Ballou Mealey for letting me know about this post!


A Dance Like Starlight was a popular book in April, especially given that April was National Poetry Month and the book is written so poetically by author Kristy Dempsey. Rhapsody in Books shares a review of the book, including several passages of text and several stunning images by illustrator Floyd Cooper.


In April, Giselle at Kids Yoga Stories celebrated picture books by author and illustrator Denise Fleming. In addition to listing seven of her favorite books by Fleming, Giselle provides yoga, movement, and counting ideas to go with Count!, In the Tall, Tall Grass, and In the Small, Small Pond. 


The April Book to Boogie post at The Library as Incubator Project features guest blogger Jill Homan Randall, who provides movement ideas to go with the picture book Dance with Me by Charles R. Smith Jr. and Noah J. Zones. Short but spirited, the post is sure to inspire you to integrate this book into a lively story time!


Kathleen at Wild Things Yoga shares a yoga lesson plan for first and second graders based on the award-winning picture book biography The Man Who Walked Between the Towers. The lesson plan focuses on balance, perseverance, self-awareness, and risk-taking -- concepts that are also explored in the book, which tells the story of Philippe Petite, who walked along a wire between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in 1974. The post also provides links to a slideshow, news story, and mini-documentary about this amazing story!


If you love the character Gerald from the picture book Giraffes Can't Dance, you'll love Jayne's April post at ABCs of Reading. The post explores how you can work on the reading comprehension strategy of "making connections" through drama and creative movement, such as by having students travel through the story from Gerald's perspective. For example, "Try to run around, but buckle at the knees. What are your feelings when you fall?" This creative and insightful post also contains a link to an art lesson based on Giraffes Can't Dance...and more!


In her monthly roundup at Chapter Book Explorer, Amy features Five, Six, Seven, Nate! by Tim Federle. A sequel to Federle's Better Nate than Ever, this new chapter book continues Nate's journey to make it big on Broadway. "Take another hilarious and touch ride with Nate Foster as he learns to live in the Big Apple, masters his choreography, has his first kiss, and saves the show!" says Amy.

0 Comments on Read & Romp Roundup: April 2014 as of 6/30/2014 7:59:00 PM
Add a Comment
2. Read & Romp Roundup: March 2014

Welcome to the March Read & Romp Roundup! Women's History Month was celebrated widely in March, so several of the submissions feature women who have broken boundaries in the world of dance -- the African American ballerina Janet Collins and the inspiring dancer and civil rights advocate Josephine Baker. And of course, no roundup would be complete without picture books and movement ideas to go with them, which are also included. Enjoy!


At Good Reads with Ronna, Rita Zobayan reviews the popular new picture book A Dance Like Starlight: One Ballerina's Dream by Kristy Dempsey and Floyd Cooper. "Inspired by the story of Janet Collins, the first African American ballerina at the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, A Dance Like Starlight: One Ballerina's Dream is a story of high hopes and grand dreams," says Rita. Read the full review to see why this "wonderful tale of courage, perseverance, and determination" brought tears to her eyes.

Kidlit Celebrates Women's History Month hosts special guest blogger Kristy Dempsey -- the author of A Dance Like Starlight: One Ballerina's Dream. What a treat! Hear from the author herself about her inspiration and experience writing the book. "A Dance Like Starlight is my song of thanks to all the women throughout history who have shown us who we can be and have given us an example to pursue our dreams with passion," Kristy says.


At Booktalking #Kidlit, Anastasia Suen features the new picture book Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby and Christian Robinson. Josephine struggled in her early life but became a celebrated dancer and performer after moving from the United States to Paris in the 1920's. Anastasia's post includes a snippet of text from the book, which is written in free verse. It also includes a book trailer and plenty of examples of the book's illustrations, which are stunning.


Maria from Maria's Movers shares some creative activities to go with the picture book The Squiggle by Carole Lexa Schaefer and Pierr Morgan. With her younger students, Maria used long colorful strings (as squiggles) to explore some of the ideas from the book, and with her older students she made up string dances!


And finally, don't forget to check out the March Book to Boogie post at the Library as Incubator Project. Dance educator Liz Vacco shares movement ideas to go with the classic picture book Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh. She includes ideas for both younger and older students and recommends music to go with the movement!

0 Comments on Read & Romp Roundup: March 2014 as of 4/9/2014 1:59:00 PM
Add a Comment
3. Read & Romp Roundup -- August 2013

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend and have a little time left to read the August Read & Romp Roundup, which is tiny but tantalizing this time around. Thanks to all who contributed. I really do love hearing all the ways you use picture book and poetry to get the little ones in your life moving...


Catherine at Story Snug reviews the picture book Doing the Animal Bop by Jan Ormerod and Lindsey Gardiner. The book is full of animals, bold and colorful illustrations, and -- as you might expect -- dance moves. According to Catherine, "the rhyming text flows beautifully and is very easy to read. However, to get the full Animal Bop experience, the accompanying CD is a must!"


At Omazing Kids, Angela shares one of her favorite picture books to help kids learn about feelings -- My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss. In her post, Angela offers a supply list for a wonderful yoga class that incorporates music, arts and crafts, scarves for movement activities, and yoga poses for each animal in the book. Her ideas could also work in dance class, a library story time, or at home, so take a look!

2 Comments on Read & Romp Roundup -- August 2013, last added: 9/16/2013
Display Comments Add a Comment
4. Join the April Read & Romp Roundup!


We had such a great Read & Romp Roundup last month. Let's make April just as great! If you have a recent (or even not so recent) blog post that involves picture books or children's poetry AND dance, yoga, or another form of movement, leave a link to your post in the comments below. I'll gather up all of the links and summarize them in a new post in a few weeks. If you're new here or aren't familiar with the roundup, you can read some of the old ones here. Can't wait to hear all of your ideas!

Submissions are open until Tuesday, April 30, 2012.


6 Comments on Join the April Read & Romp Roundup!, last added: 5/2/2013
Display Comments Add a Comment
5. Read & Romp Roundup -- March 2013

Many thanks to everyone who contributed to the roundup in March. I think this is our largest one yet! Once again we have a great mix of dance, yoga, and general movement submissions...plus a poem! There's a little something for everyone, so I hope you enjoy hopping around to read the different posts.


At Playing by the Book, Zoe has embraced the color pink and made the wordless picture book Flora and the Flamingo a family affair! Read her post to learn more about this new book by Molly Idle. You can also see how Zoe and her two daughters celebrated its dance-related story of friendship and found some creative activities to go along with the book.

Early childhood dance educator Becca Beck shares the poem "The Goldilocks Song," which is perfect for incorporating into creative movement and pre-ballet classes...or for enjoying at home! Hear how she uses it to explore the concept of making shapes bigger and smaller with her students.

Gail at Yoga Kiddos with Gailee tells us how she uses the picture book Z is for Moose, by Kelly Bingham and Paul O. Zelinksi, in her yoga classes for kids. The funny alphabet book, which involves a fame-hungry moose who will do anything to be included in the book, lends itself well to acting out yoga animal poses.


Amy from Picture-Book-a-Day is back with a review of Ellen Stoll Walsh's Hop Jump. Read her post to learn more about this picture book about a frog who gets bored of hopping and jumping and decides to add dance to her repertoire. As usual, Amy is also full of creative ideas to go along with the book, including making origami hopping frogs!

At OMazing Kids, Angela shares a Dr. Seuss alphabet extravaganza for kid's yoga and early literacy. Her post is packed full of yoga, literacy, music, art, prop, and game ideas to go along with book Dr. Seuss's ABC. Because Angela is a huge fan of Dr. Seuss, she also includes links to other posts that combine his books with yoga.

In a second post at OMazing Kids, Angela uses the classic Eric Carle book The Very Hungry Caterpillar to celebrate the start of spring. Her full lesson plan -- including yoga poses, a music playlist, and a mindfulness activity with real fruit -- are all included!


Reshama from Stacking Books reviews the picture book Goal! by Mina Javaherbin and A.G. Ford. With kicking, dribbling, and running, this book is full of movement! Set in South Africa, the book is also a good introduction to a different culture and to the concept of bullying.

The new dance, craft, and storybook Crafterina has a blog! This post provides an introduction to Crafterina and provides guidance on how to best take advantage of all aspects of the book. You can also learn more at www.crafterina.com.

At ABCs of Reading, Jayne uses the picture book Cindy Moo by Lori Mortensen and Jack Mack to teach the comprehension strategy of questioning and to get kids "moo-ving." Inspired by the nursery rhyme "Hey Diddle Diddle," Cindy Moo sets out to show her friends that cows really can jump over the moon. Read Jayne's post for her movement ideas!

Author and dance educator Connie Bergstein Dow contributes to the blog PreK + K Sharing, where she has created a carrot seed dance story based on the classic book The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss and Crockett Johnson. Learn more about Connie, who regularly uses movement as a learning tool, at movingislearning.com.

6 Comments on Read & Romp Roundup -- March 2013, last added: 4/17/2013
Display Comments Add a Comment
6. Join the March Read & Romp Roundup


Today I'm going to get right to business with the official call for submissions to the March Read & Romp Roundup! If you have a recent (or even not so recent) blog post that involves picture books or children's poetry AND dance, yoga, or another form of movement, leave a link to your post in the comments below. I'll gather up all of the links and summarize them in a new post in a few weeks. If you're new here or aren't familiar with the roundup, you can read some of the old ones here. Can't wait to hear all of your ideas!

Submissions are open until Saturday, March 30, 2012.

16 Comments on Join the March Read & Romp Roundup, last added: 4/8/2013
Display Comments Add a Comment
7. Read & Romp Roundup -- February 2013

Welcome to the slightly belated February Read & Romp Roundup. Fitting for such a short month, the roundup is a little shorter than usual this time around. However, I think it's a great one and am excited that we have both regular and new contributors!


Maria from Maria's Movers shares her movement ideas to go along with the picture book Mouse's First Snow by Lauren Thompson and Buket Erdogan. She picks out movement words from the book -- like twirly whirly, zzzzipity zzzip, and push and pile -- and explores them with her little ones. Enjoy reading all of her great ideas!


Children's author Joanna Marple joins us this month from Miss Marple's Musings with a review of the new app Prancing Dancing Lilly by Marsha Diane Arnold and John Manders. Based on the printed picture book by the same name, the app has added features such as music, animal animation and noises, and an option for multi-voice narration. Check out Joanna's post to learn more about Lilly and her dancing dream!  


Reshama at the new blog Stacking Books shares the picture book Jumping Jenny by Ellen Bari and Raquel Garcia Macia. Jenny loves jumping, but she finds out it can be annoying to some people and can even lead to accidents. Luckily, Jenny also finds out that jumping can help support a very special cause. Read Reshama's post to find out what that cause is, and enjoy her beautiful blog! 

2 Comments on Read & Romp Roundup -- February 2013, last added: 3/14/2013
Display Comments Add a Comment
8. Read & Romp Roundup -- January 2013

Welcome to the January Read & Romp Roundup! Since another winter storm has just barreled through parts of the Northeastern United States, I'm going to start the roundup off with a couple of winter-themed books with lots of snow in them. However, there were plenty of other great submissions in January, including a picture book about pigs who polka! Stay warm this weekend if you were in the path of the storm, and enjoy the roundup...


Jacqui at Access Dance for Life shares her impressions of the classic book The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Her post reminds us of the wonder of snow and suggests ways to incorporate the book into creative movement and pre-ballet classes.
Rabbit's Snow Dance is the first of four movement-themed books that Amy from Picture-Book-a-Day is sharing with us. Just released a few months ago, the book tells a traditional Iroquois story explaining how the rabbit got its tail. As you might expect, it involves snow -- and dancing!


I can't wait to read Piggies in a Polka after hearing Amy's description of the book. "Movement is woven into the text, as well as the illustrations, and the rhythm of the book sets your toes a-tapping," she says. Check out her post to learn more!

Honk! The Story of a Prima Swanerina is another of Amy's recommendations that I would love to read. Her post gives a detailed description of the book -- which involves the Paris Opera House, Swan Lake, and a swan who longs to dance -- and mentions other books and activities that go along with it.

In one more post at Picture-Book-a-Day, Amy describes some of the movement words in Nighttime Ninja and how the book can inspire kids to get moving. Amy's year of blogging about picture books is over, but hopefully she will still be able to contribute to the roundup through her new blog Chapter Book Explorer!

Beth at By Word of Beth shares the nonfiction book Ballerina Dreams, which takes readers into a special ballet class for children with physical disabilities and follows them as they prepare for a ballet recital. Beth also shares activities and resources to go along with this inspiring book.

Over at Maria's Movers, Maria tells us how she used the picture book Balancing Act to teach balance to her creative movement students. It involves piling onto an imaginary teeter totter. Fun!


5 Comments on Read & Romp Roundup -- January 2013, last added: 2/28/2013
Display Comments Add a Comment
9. Top Five Posts at Picture Books & Pirouettes


A lot of creative movement teachers have "circle time" at the beginning of class to give the children a chance to share any special thoughts they have before class and to help set up a structure and collaborative tone for the rest of the class. Over at the incredible dance resource Dance Advantage, Nichelle established a circle time of her own a few months ago so her readers could also share their thoughts on a variety of dance topics.

This month, Nichelle is asking bloggers to describe five top posts from their own blogs and why those posts "rock." This sounded like a fun exercise, especially since I haven't spent too much time reflecting on how Picture Books & Pirouettes has evolved since I started it back in August 2010. Here's a bit of what I had to say about the blog in my very first post...

My plan is to blog about a wide variety of picture books that are in some way related to dance...And, since I am still new to this whole blog thing, I'm not yet sure what other directions it might take...

It is reassuring to look back at this and realize I have stuck to my plan of blogging about picture books related to dance. But now -- 122 posts later -- it is also rewarding to be able to highlight a couple of those "other directions" my blog has taken in the last two and a half years...




This post describes the picture book Miss Tutu's Star by Leslea Newman and Carey Armstrong-Ellis. The book is such a wonderful combination of poetry, humor, sweetness, and dance. It introduced me to an author and an illustrator I hadn't heard of before and has become one of my favorite picture books with a dance theme. 




This post about the picture book Drumbeat In Our Feet was one of my most personal posts, as the book reminded me of some of my own life experiences related to Africa and African dance. It also resonated with some of my readers and elicited comments from people I don't often hear from through my blog. 


We're Dancing on a Bear Hunt! 
(September 2011)



One of my favorite "other directions" the blog has taken is my monthly collaboration with Maria's Movers. For "Read It. Move It. Share It," each month I recommend a book for Maria to use in her creative movement classes, and then we share our experiences with the book. We're Going on a Bear Hunt turned out to be a popular book among dance teachers, and I love how Maria used it in her classes!


Read & Romp Roundup 
(January 2012)


Exactly a year ago, I started hosting a monthly roundup of blog posts related to both picture books or children's poetry AND dance, yoga, or other forms of movement. I was really happy with the response, especially among other bloggers who integrate children's literature and the arts. I love interacting with other bloggers who share my passions, so I would have to say that the inaugural "Read & Romp Roundup" is another of my favorite posts!




I've had the privilege of interviewing several children's book authors on my blog, but my interview with Allegra Kent stands out in my mind. It was the only interview that I conducted over the phone (rather than over email) for the blog, and I so enjoyed learning more about Allegra's history as a Balanchine ballerina and how she became the author of her debut picture book Ballerina Swan. 

0 Comments on Top Five Posts at Picture Books & Pirouettes as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
10. Read & Romp Roundup -- November 2012

The last few weeks have been a little crazy for me, but I finally have the November Read & Romp Roundup ready to share with you. Lots of picture books with winter and holiday themes this month, so I hope you'll enjoy the post. And thanks, as always, to everyone who contributed. I couldn't do this without you!

With Nutcracker season in full swing, Zoe at Playing by the Book shares reviews of two Nutcracker books for children. First is Ella Bella Ballerina and the Nutcracker, which is part of a wonderful series of ballet-themed books by James Mayhew. Zoe also reviews E.T.A. Hoffmann's Nutcracker, which is illustrated by Maurice Sendak and was just re-released this year. Both are gorgeous books!

Over at Picture-Book-a-Day, Amy reviews the 1993 Caldecott-winning picture book Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully. As the title implies, one of the themes of the book is high wire walking. See Amy's post to learn more about the book and some activities to go along with it, including movement activities to practice balance.

Amy also reviews the picture book biography Monsieur Marceau by Leda Schubert and Gerard DuBois. Born in France in 1993, Marceau is known not only as a famous mime but also as a person who helped save the lives of many Jewish children during World War II. Amy talks more about this interesting man, provides links to videos of mimes, and suggests movement activities to go with the book.

Amy always has great descriptions and ideas to go along with the books she highlights on Picture-Book-a-Day, and her post on Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring is no exception. Read her post to learn more about this book on the collaboration among dancer and choreographer Martha Graham, composer Aaron Copeland, and set designer Isamu Noguchi. 

Angela at Omazing Kids is sharing multiple picture books on her blog this month, too! First up is her favorite moose book to use when she teaches yoga for kids -- Agate: What Good is a Moose? by Joy Morgan Dey and Nikki Johnson. Click here to read Angela's post, see images from the book, and find out which yoga poses they might inspire.

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the Grinch, right? For Angela at Omazing Kids, it seems that Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the Grinch AND yoga! Check out her blog post on How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, which includes yoga poses to go with the book, printable yoga cards, and links to other winter-themed posts on her blog.

Last but not least, Maria from Maria's Movers shares movement ideas to go along with the classic picture book The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Her imaginative post will give you plenty of ideas for allowing your little ones to experience the snow, whether or not there is actually snow where you live! 

0 Comments on Read & Romp Roundup -- November 2012 as of 12/16/2012 11:22:00 PM
Add a Comment
11. Read & Romp Roundup -- September 2012

Welcome to the September Read & Romp Roundup! Thanks, as always, to all of the contributors...and to you, the readers! Without further adieu, here are last month's submissions...

Angela at OMazing Kids added the picture book Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington to her list of "Fall Faves." Angela describes the book and provides a comprehensive lesson plan to go along with it. Yoga poses, breathing exercises, suggestions for music, and sneak peeks of the book are all included!

I'm so happy that Erik from This Kid Reviews Books joined the roundup this month with a review of the picture book Tap Dance Fever by Pat Brisson and Nancy Cote. Check out Eric's post to learn more about the star of the book -- Annabelle Applegate -- and how she just can't stop dancing! Erik also includes a link to directions on how to make your own tap shoes. Fun!

In keeping with the seasons, Maria at Maria's Movers shares her creative movement ideas to go along with the picture book Mouse's First Fall by Lauren Thompson and Buket Erdogan. As you might expect, Maria even incorporates real leaves into her ideas for this book!

At Picture-Book-a-Day, Amy reviews one of her all-time favorite picture books about dance -- Angelina Ballerina! She also provides links to more information about Angelina, ideas for books to pair with this one, a hand print craft, and directions on how to make your own tutu!

0 Comments on Read & Romp Roundup -- September 2012 as of 10/12/2012 3:19:00 PM
Add a Comment
12. Join the September Read & Romp Roundup!



I returned from Barnes & Noble a few hours ago with a stack of picture books and chapter books I'm going to take with me tomorrow to the National Book Festival in Washington, DC. I've removed a stack of older picture books from our shelves and am going to take those with me as well. Eilleen Spinelli, Anna Dewdny, Judy Sierra, and Marc Brown are among the picture book authors and illustrators I am hoping to meet and have sign my books. I am so excited!

Since books are on my mind tonight, I thought it would be a good time to put out my monthly call for submissions to the Read & Romp Roundup. I just realized that all the authors I mentioned above write in rhyme, so I guess poetry is on my mind, too!

If you have a recent (or even not so recent) blog post related to picture books or children's poetry AND dance, yoga, or another form of movement, leave your link in a comment on this post. I'll round up all the links and post about them together on my blog in a few weeks. 

Submissions are open until Sunday, September 30, 2012.

In case you didn't see it, I also have a giveaway going on through September 30, 2012. Dance educator Liz Vacco is giving away a copy of her Petite Feet DVD for kids. You can learn more about the video, hear how Liz uses storytelling to teach dance, and enter the giveaway here. Have a wonderful weekend!

8 Comments on Join the September Read & Romp Roundup!, last added: 10/1/2012
Display Comments Add a Comment
13. Read & Romp Roundup -- August 2012

August was a busy month for many of us. Teachers were getting lesson plans together. Parents were preparing kids for the new school year. Kids were trying to remember what it's like to be on a regular schedule -- or, at least my kids were! And, hopefully, all of us were reading lots of great books. Speaking of great books, the August Read & Romp Roundup is full of them. Thanks to everyone who submitted!

At OMazing Kids, Angela shares a comprehensive list of children's yoga, wellness, mindfulness, and relaxation products. The list includes resource books for teachers, DVDs, coloring pages, workbooks, and of course plenty of picture books!

Maria from Maria's Movers uses the picture book Who Likes Rain? with her 4- to 5-year-old dance students. Read how they use the sounds from the book -- like "gurgle," "whoosh," and "KER-SPLAT!" -- to come up with their own dance!

Once again Amy at Picture-Book-A-Day reviewed two dance books over the last month! The first is Tanya and Emily in a Dance for Two by Patricia Lee Gauch and Satomi Ichikawa. Although Tanya and Emily have very different dance styles, they learn to dance together both inside and outside of dance class. Also find out what activities Amy would pair with the book!

Amy also reviews DANCE by dancer and choreographer Bill T. Jones and photographer Susan Kuklin. First she describes the book, which shows how dance can be used to convey a variety of emotions, shapes, and ideas. Then she provides plenty of ways the book can be used to spark interesting discussions with children about dance!

Educator Mariah Bruehl is the founder of a blog I discovered the other day. It's called Playful Learning, created "to help parents support their children's learning and development." This guest post by Monique Barker shows how storytelling can be used to introduce kids to yoga!

2 Comments on Read & Romp Roundup -- August 2012, last added: 9/21/2012
Display Comments Add a Comment
14. Read & Romp Roundup -- July 2012

It's that time again. Time to pull together all the great blog posts that were submitted for last month's Read & Romp Roundup. Thanks so much to everyone who contributed. I think we have another really great roundup!

Maria from Maria's Movers introduces readers to Prima the Ballerina in Her Backyard -- an interactive book by professional dancers Nikki and Ethan White. The book can be used as a lesson plan for teaching movement to children and is the first in a planned series!


At Flowering Minds, Darshana reviews Yawning Yoga, written by children's yoga specialist Laurie Jordan with illustrations by Aaron Randy. Full of yoga poses to release energy and relaxation exercises to calm the mind, this book can help young children slow down for bed!


Angela at OMazing Kids shares one of her new favorite ABC books to incorporate into yoga classes for kids. ABC Menagerie contains an animal and rhyme for each letter of the alphabet, plus what Angela describes as "quirky felt animal structures" as illustrations. A great book to accompany animal poses!


The "OMazing" Angela also shares an updated list of 222 picture books she thinks would be good choices to use in children's yoga classes. Wow! Plus, she reports that she is working on a separate list of children's books designed specifically to teach yoga and mindfulness. Can't wait to see it!


Amy at Picture-Book-a-Day is reviewing a different picture book every day this year. Lucky for us, she reviewed two dance-related books in July! The first is Bea at Ballet by Rachel Isadora. "If your child is starting ballet class soon, this is the perfect book to introduce them to the format and conventions of class," says Amy.


The second book Amy reviews is This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt and R.G. Roth. Written to the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man," the book celebrates the lives and music of 10 jazz legends. One of those legends -- who made music with his feet! -- is tap dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. In her post, Amy also recommends some activities and other books to go along with this fun and jazzy book!


Deanna at Little Namaste Yoga posts about All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon and Marla Frazee. In one of her favorite lessons to teach, Deanna uses the book to find new "places" for her students to explore. As the scenes in the book change, Deanna uses yoga, songs, and other sensory activities to enhance the experiences of her young students. 

4 Comments on Read & Romp Roundup -- July 2012, last added: 9/8/2012
Display Comments Add a Comment
15. Join the July Read & Romp Roundup!


Is it really the middle of July already? Time is flying by! I had so many ideas for posting this month, and I haven't gotten around to any of them yet! But... I at least can't let my monthly roundup pass by.

This is the official call for submissions for the July Read & Romp Roundup. If you have a recent (or even not so recent) blog post that involves picture books or children's poetry AND dance, yoga, or another form of movement, leave your link in a comment on this post.

Maybe you read a picture book about yoga that you'd like to share. Or maybe you read a poem that made your students want to get up and dance. All ideas are welcome! I'll round up all the links and post about them together in a few weeks. Can't wait to hear from you!

Submissions are open until Monday, July 30, 2012. 

1 Comments on Join the July Read & Romp Roundup!, last added: 7/23/2012
Display Comments Add a Comment
16. Read & Romp Roundup -- May 2012

Welcome to the May Read & Romp Roundup! As usual, I'm really pleased with the submissions this month. Plus, in my weekly reading, I came across a few extra posts that I added to the roundup because they fit in so perfectly. And in case you missed it yesterday (May 25th), happy belated National Tap Dance Day!

Lisa at Shelf-Employed shares a review of the picture book The Shape Song Swingalong, which she says is "a perfect book for dancing." Read her post to find out why she likes the book so much and to see what other books she would pair it with for a "home run of storytime!"


Earlier this month, Maria from Maria's Movers created a bumble bee dance to do with some of her youngest dance students. The best part? She used a poem about a bee hive as her muse!



Tracy Bermeo (a.ka. The A2Z Mommy) features I Dreamed I Was a Ballerina this month.

0 Comments on Read & Romp Roundup -- May 2012 as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
17. Join the May Read & Romp Roundup!


I hope everyone is enjoying Children's Book Week this year. If you've not heard of it before, you can learn more about it here. The longest-running literacy initiative in the United States, it's yet another wonderful opportunity to celebrate the love of books and reading with the young people in our lives. And if you happen to celebrate by sharing a picture book during a movement class or by sharing a movement-themed book at home or school this week, I'd love to hear about it! 

This is the official call for submissions for the May Read & Romp Roundup, and I hope you have some great ideas to share. If you have a recent (or even not so recent) blog post that involves picture books or children's poetry AND dance, yoga, or another form of movement, leave your link in a comment on this post. I'll round up all the links and post about them together on my blog in a few weeks. And enjoy the rest of Children's Book Week!

Submissions are open until Friday, May 25, 2012.

2 Comments on Join the May Read & Romp Roundup!, last added: 5/14/2012
Display Comments Add a Comment
18. Join the April Read & Romp Roundup!


Read or romp? Romp or read?
Books and bodies both can lead. 

Turn the pages. Twist and tromp.
Romp and read. Read and romp!


April is a special month for many writers I know because it's National Poetry Month. But April 20-29 is also National Dance Week, so many dance teachers and studios will be planning special activities to celebrate that week. And, of course,

5 Comments on Join the April Read & Romp Roundup!, last added: 4/9/2012
Display Comments Add a Comment
19. Read & Romp Roundup -- February 2012

Welcome to our second Read & Romp Roundup! I hope you'll enjoy the February roundup, which highlights some great books for inspiring movement and promoting literacy among the important children in our lives. In case you didn't know, today is also World Read Aloud Day, an annual event sponsored by LitWorld to promote literacy among children in all parts of the world. You can learn more about this special day and ways to participate here. Enjoy the roundup, and happy reading aloud today!

At Access Dance for Life, Jacqui reviews the picture book What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. Filled with unique animals and their body parts, the book can help kids learn how to lead with different body parts when they dance...and so much more!

Jodie at Growing Book by Book introduces us to 15 Minutes Outside: 365 Ways to Get Out of the House and Connect with Your Kids. But she also goes one step further and uses the book as inspiration to think up eight new outdoor activities to promote literacy with young children. Lots of her ideas include picture books and movement, too!

Head over to Maria's Movers to see how Maria used the picture book Bounce by Doreen Cronin and Scott Menchin in her creative movement classes. Her kids had a great time bouncing and bumping and falling like the adorable dog in this fun book!

Display Comments Add a Comment
20. Join This Month's Read & Romp Roundup!


Happy Valentine's Day! I thought today would be as good a day as any to put out my call for submissions for the February Read & Romp Roundup. If you love picture books, children's poetry, dance, or the simple joys of moving, then you might want to contribute to this month's roundup. And if you love any or all of those things, you can also be my valentine!

If you have a recent (or even not so recent) blog post that involves picture books or children's poetry AND dance, yoga, or another form of movement, leave your link in a comment on this post. I'll round up all the links and post about them together on my blog early next month.

Book reviews, poems, lesson plans, author or illustrator interviews, ideas for dance or yoga classes, and any other creative thoughts you have about combining children's literature and movement for little ones are welcome. And feel free to let other bloggers know about the roundup. Last month's roundup was a great success, and I'm really looking forward to seeing this month's posts!

Submissions are open until Wednesday, February 29, 2012.

4 Comments on Join This Month's Read & Romp Roundup!, last added: 2/17/2012
Display Comments Add a Comment
21. Read & Romp Roundup -- January 2012

Here, finally, is the Read & Romp Roundup for January 2012. I was thrilled with the response to my first call for submissions and think we have a great and diverse roundup here. Just what I was hoping for! We have picture books with themes of rhythm and dance, unique ideas for incorporating poetry and picture books into dance and yoga classes, and even a birthday celebration for a beloved author who writes about dance. Hope you enjoy the inaugural roundup!


Amy at Delightful Children's Books shares a list of 10 children's books that entertain, inform, inspire, and broaden children's understanding of dance. Amy also created a YouTube playlist to go along with her post, including performances by Fred Astaire, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and more. 


Wait until you see what Eric from Happy Birthday Author did to celebrate author Katherine Holab

10 Comments on Read & Romp Roundup -- January 2012, last added: 2/6/2012
Display Comments Add a Comment