Dance with Me

PreS-Gr 1—A ballerina in a music box loves to dance each day with a little girl. But as the little girl grows older, she loses interest in the pastime. The ballerina tries to find a new dance companion, including toy versions of a bee, a turtle, and a leopard, but none of them wishes to dance with her. The little girl eventually closes the lid on the music box, leaving the ballerina locked away for many years. The story concludes with a new little girl, to whom the music box has been passed on, opening the box and dancing with the ballerina, much to the ballerina's delight. Harrison conveys a bittersweet tale about growing up from the perspective of the toys that are often left behind. Although the original little girl grows up and discards her once-beloved music box, the book ends on an upbeat note. Jones's illustrations, which feature soft lines and vibrant colors, successfully convey the graceful movements of the ballerina. Most striking is when the toy animals morph into their real-life counterparts, resulting in lifelike, detailed depictions.