More than once Anna has opened my eyes to new ways of seeing STEAM learning. She has challenged my framework,
putting the "A" in STEAM. She has recognized patterns in
fashion and
music that takes me out of my comfort zone, inviting me to learn new things. And ultimately her interest in stereotypically "girl" contexts like sewing,
tea parties, princesses, and
relationships, set in contrast to
her brother's obsession with mechanical things, has brought forth what I call "
Princess Engineering." This list is born from her interest in dance, where we have learned about shapes (different dance poses), grit (working toward something great), and, above all,
culture.
For Beginners
Molly Idle has written/illustrated three books that feature Flora, a young girl who explores dance alongside a
flamingo, a
penguin, and some
peacocks. The wordless books show Flora and the birds mimicking each other, moving away from one another, and ultimately demonstrating the give-and-take of partnership. The images are beautiful and the stories are heart-warming.
The Trials and Tribulations of Young Dancers
Tallulah is a young aspiring dancer. She covets a
tutu,
toe shoes, and the opportunity to perform a
solo. In each story, she wrestles with the patience, discipline, and commitment it takes to become a "real" ballerina. Your young dancer will likely connect with Tallulah's desire to be great. The text is easy-to-read and the illustrations add dimension to the story, showing Tallulah's imagination and aspirations in a gentle but relatable way. There are two other books, too: one about performing in the
Nutcracker and another when Tallulah explores
tap dance. Altogether, there are five books for you to enjoy with your young dancer.
James Mayhew has written and illustrated five books that feature Ella Bella and a magic music box. In each book, Ella Bella listens to the tinkling of a magic music box. As the music plays, Ella Bella meets a character from a classic ballet story - for example, Puck from "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Together with her escort, Ella Bella learns all about classic ballet stories including
A Midsummer Night's Dream,
Sleeping Beauty,
Cinderella, The Nutcracker, and Swan Lake. Mayhew successfully weaves Ella Bella's real world where she practices under the guidance of a patient teacher and her imaginary one where she dances with the stars.
Historical Fiction
I saved this historical fiction picture book for last for one simple reason. It follows Anna Pavlova's entire life story
to her death. It is a beautiful book that shows the patience and discipline required to be a ballerina. But it also shows how utterly talented and extraordinary Anna Pavlova was as a dancer and international ambassador of dance culture. It ends on a nearly empty page with gentle words that elude to her death. This euphemism is an exact representation to how she chose to die, performing as a swan one last time until the final scene when the curtains opened to an empty stage. I recommend "
Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova" to more mature audiences.
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