Me, salsa dance?

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$14.00


Roscoe’s family shares a unique passion – they are all obsessed with salsa dancing. His parents and grandparents all love to salsa dance, and they have planned a vacation to go salsa dancing in Seattle and Vancouver. Roscoe Alfonso Leonidas Washington the Third, though, likes the idea of salsa dancing about as much as he likes eating peas. He just can’t picture himself dancing like his parents and grandparents, and feels awkward whenever he tries. Roscoe doesn’t want to disappoint his family, though, so he signs up for a class at the local library that promises to teach salsa dancing in sixty minutes. The question is: will it work?

Me, Salsa Dance? carries a number of empowering messages for children, as Roscoe learns to try new things, conquers his self-consciousness, discovers a way to express himself, has fun, and bonds with his family and community. The story is a vehicle for all these great lessons, and Roscoe’s stubbornness, awkwardness, and his later enjoyment are all both relatable and enjoyable. The artwork complements the story; it is simple but often perfectly captures the Roscoe’s reluctance and the other characters’ love of salsa dancing. Some of Roscoe’s facial expressions are particularly amazing.

The downside is that a number of grammatical concerns detract from the writing and distract from the story. Missing and misused punctuation, as well as shifts in tense and perspective, indicate a book that could seriously benefit from a round of editing. Also, while salsa dancing is portrayed as an enjoyable family pastime, the rich cultural background of salsa dance is not explored in the book: a missed opportunity to present an enriching multicultural experience. The overall result is a decent children’s story that doesn’t quite achieve its full potential.


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Author
Star Count 2.5/5
Format Trade
Page Count 61 pages
Publisher CreateSpace
Publish Date 18-Jul-2013
ISBN 9781481809078
Bookshop.org Buy this Book
Issue January 2014
Category Children's
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