Throughout history and around the world, dancing has been a way for people to express themselves and celebrate their cultural identity. Share these titles with young readers in time for National Dance Day on September 21.

 Breaking to the Beat! by Linda J Acevedo. illus. by Frank Morrison. Lee & Low. ISBN 9781643796390. 
K-Gr 3–Break dancing began its life in inner cities where underprivileged kids looked for a way to express their creative sides. The book chronicles the growth of these dance moves from urban street corners and lots to becoming an Olympic sport starting in 2024. VERDICT This is an accessible book for elementary school children interested in break dancing and other forms of movement and dance; it’s of historical and cultural significance and is an important addition to any collection.

 Cesaria Feels the Beat by Denise Rosario Adusei. illus. by Priscila Soares. Roaring Brook. ISBN 9781250824967. 
Gr 1-5–Cesaria, a child with brown skin and a puffy bun of brown hair, feels the beat in her feet. The understated text has mentioned that she signs to others, but this is the only indication that Cesaria is Deaf. VERDICT This is a picture book to enter with an open heart and share widely. It invites everyone into a celebration of dance, life, and being true to oneself.

 Love, Lah Lah by Nailah Blackman. illus. by Jade Orlando. Knopf. ISBN 9780593487693. 
PreS-Gr 2–Readers itching for a reason to get up and dance should tune in to Love, Lah Lah. In this lively musical picture book, little Lah Lah and her grandfather Papa sing, eat, and shake their tail feathers through Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago during Carnival. VERDICT A lyrical and loving tribute to family and Trinidadian culture that should fill a gap in most library collections.

[Read: 11 Family Music Albums to Get Kids Moving]

My Cat Does Ballet by Robert Heidbreder. illus. by Matt Schu. S. & S./Atheneum. ISBN 9781665917032. 
PreS-Gr 1–A young boy and his friends love to discuss their cats and their antics. The boy insists that his cat does ballet! Believing his friends are jealous of the feat, he organizes a “Corps de Chat,” a ballet group for cats. VERDICT A creative celebration of dance, friendly competition, cats and their gifts.

Tango Red Riding Hood by Rachel S. Hobbs. illus. by Carolina Vázquez. Gnome Road. ISBN 9781957655147. 
Gr 1-4–A Latinx retelling of Red Riding Hood with a dancing Red and a wolf eager to learn English. Moni is on her way to visit her abuela and is distracted by a music-playing lobo. VERDICT A bright retelling with a real beat, this not only shares the experience of learning a language, but will be a story hour hit.

 On the Line: My Story of Becoming the First African American Rockette by Jennifer Jones & Lissette Norman. illus. by Robert Paul, Jr. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780063087064. 
Gr 1-5–Jones and her coauthor tell her story in an approachable way that children of all backgrounds will understand. Paul’s dynamic, whimsical illustrations bring Jones’s journey to the big stage to life. VERDICT An important story for all children to read, but especially recommended for students of the arts.

 ¡Boogie en el Bronx! by Jackie Azúa Kramer. tr. from English by Brian Amador. illus. by Jana Glatt. Barefoot Bks. ISBN 9798888591116. SP. 
PreS-Gr 2–Boogie-Down Bronx! This well-known phrase comes to life in this beautifully illustrated work about the many rhythms and dances that can be heard and seen in New York City’s northernmost borough. VERDICT This story is entertaining for every age and offers so many opportunities for engagement—choral reading, storytimes, movement breaks, and more.

Soul Step by Jewell Parker Rhodes & Kelly McWilliams. illus. by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu. Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316562713. 
PreS-Gr 3–A young Black girl learns what gets her mama through the everyday: step. She learns from her mother’s sorority sister, her aunt, and a community leader that step is about sisterhood and tradition; passed down through generations born into slavery and then flourishing in Black Greek organizations. VERDICT A wonderfully rhythmic picture book on an aspect of Black culture that is not often highlighted in the picture book format.

Bhangra Baby by Kabir Sehgal & Surishtha Sehgal. illus. by Ani Bushry. S. & S./Beach Lane. ISBN 9781665936156. 
PreS-Gr 1–Let’s dance Bhangra with a joyful, colorful book that takes readers through learning about body movement and the music and words that come with it. Not sure what Bhangra is? A brief overview appears at the end with pronunciation guides for terms that may be new to some readers. VERDICT This is a great addition to any collection, especially for story times looking to give kids—and families—time to dance together!

 Brown Girls Do Ballet: Celebrating Diverse Girls Taking Center Stage by TaKiyah Wallace-McMillian & JaNay Brown-Wood. photos. by TaKiyah Wallace-McMillian. Black Dog & Leventhal. ISBN 9780762487592. 
Gr 1-4–Photographs of brown girls of all ages, shapes, skin tones, and abilities are the star of this empowering ode to the grace and beauty of dancing brown bodies. Wallace-McMillian and Brown-Wood craft a rhyming text paired with images of girls bearing broad smiles and clear delight in movement. VERDICT A lyrical and powerful addition to any collection. Recommended.