October Book Review - Giraffes Can't Dance

This month I am reviewing GIRAFFES CAN'T DANCE by Gilels Andreae, illustrations by Guy Parker-Rees.

I volunteer at the local zoo and feeding the giraffes is my favorite activity so when amazon recommended this book to me, I immediately ordered it and knew I had found the book I wanted to review this month.

GIRAFFES CAN'T DANCE is a book about being different and being okay with that.  The giraffe in the story, Gerald, goes to the annual Jungle Dance.  All the other animals are dancing well but when Gerald heads out to the dance floor the other animals start mocking him, saying he can't dance and that he's weird.  He freezes and believes they are right that he is "useless" and he leaves the dance feeling sad and alone.  He looks up at the moon and a cricket says to him " . . . sometimes when you're different you just need a different song."  The cricket starts playing his violin and Gerald starts dancing with reckless abandon and it's beautiful.  All the other animals start gathering around and enjoy Gerald's dancing.

It was a sweet little story and made me think of the saying that includes "dancing like no one is looking".  But it also has a message - that's it's okay to be different and to be comfortable with who you are.

When I went to place the order for this book I listened to the audio sample as well.  If I hadn't already placed my order, I probably would've ordered the audio version because there were added sounds and music that I felt were enhancing the experience.

In any event, I think it has a good message and is told in a way that would engage young children.  It's a short book (32 pages) and this review probably has more words in it than the book does but I liked it and recommend it.

For more reviews go to barriesummy.blogspot.com.