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Dance With Me

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A collection of poems celebrates many kinds of traditional and original dances, from the classic waltzes and tap dances to a dance with the wind and a gardener's dance with her hoe

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1995

17 people want to read

About the author

Barbara Juster Esbensen

25 books3 followers

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5 stars
5 (29%)
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7 (41%)
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4 (23%)
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1 (5%)
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for Jenn.
36 reviews3 followers
February 6, 2012
This book is a collection of poems about how everything has its own dance. The settings range from a garden to a basketball court. There are various characters in these poems and each character creates their own dance. Each poem has their own style of rhyme and they create unique stories all their own.
These poems each have their own sing-songy rhythm to them. There is a rhyme scheme to each poem and the scheme fits each story perfectly. The pictures in the book match perfectly to their poem. These poems open up a new view on nature and everyday things that people may have never realized are actually a dance in their own right. This book shows these everyday tasks and happenings in a positive way. For example, a lightning storm, while scary is seen in a way that is beautiful and elegant. This is appropriate for children because it helps them to understand the simple joys in life.
Overall, this book can be used in a lesson to teach about the simplicity of life and how beautiful life can be if you just sit back and enjoy the little things.
Profile Image for Roger.
1,113 reviews6 followers
February 17, 2018
A book of poems about dancing and nature “for children.” Don’t be fooled. They’re great for all ages.
Profile Image for Charmie McKinney.
20 reviews
March 9, 2014
Dance with Me poems by Barbara Juster Esbensen illustrated by Megan Lloyd
This book is themed around "Dance." Each poem describes how things dance. Bubbles, lightning, basketballs, etc., all have special ways of dancing. I like some poetry but not all. I prefer the poetry I read to rhyme or have a nice flow. This book of poetry had neither. I think some of the poems are a bit confusing. Some poems I would have to definitely teach vocabulary such as in the poem "The Lightning Dance." It uses the words dirk and scimitar. I had to look these words up for myself. I estimate the grade levels that should be used with this book is 3rd and up. This book actually was the 1994 Award Winner for Excellence in Poetry for Children given by the National Council of Teachers of English. I did like the illustration in the book. They capture the titles to each poem. The pictures are a soft watercolor painting.
831 reviews
May 29, 2008
Poem: "Basketball Ballet" pg. 20. This is a great poem about basketball. It is short but the way it is written makes you feel as if you are going towards the court in a effortless way. All of the poems in this book are accompanied by pictures what work together with the words to give a musical, sweeping-motion sense to each rhyme.
Profile Image for Cher.
44 reviews
October 13, 2011
Being a dancer, I of course had to check this book out. What make this book so unique is the way in which Esbensen views nature and the world around her as a dance. Her poems "Invitation to the Wind" and "Lightning Dance are by far my favorites, as they immediately inspired choreography within my head as I read.
30 reviews
March 25, 2012
This book by Juster Esbensen is a great picture book for all young readers interested in poetry. Esbensens collection provides the readers with vivid free-verse poems about wind, thunderstorms, mirrors, shadows and more. I really recommend this book for teachers looking for a good poetry book for children.
15 reviews
April 2, 2012
This book has so many different characters, different types of settings, and not to mention the many different poems. All with their own type of rhyming style. This is a book that celebrates the movement of everyday life and the type of movement we do naturally. This is a really good poem collection book to have for students to read.
Profile Image for Kathryn Eder.
27 reviews
December 5, 2012
This book about poetry is a beautifully written about objects that we can see and feel. Ocean waves and lightning are all illustrated in poems that capture how each one dances. The illustrations are marvelous as well.
Profile Image for Monique Clem.
20 reviews1 follower
March 15, 2013
Dance with Me
By Barbara Juster Esbensen
Age: 5-12

This is a book of different poems. There are different character and settings in the book being that there are different poems. Very cute book. I would recommend this book to dancers or those inspired by dance.
48 reviews4 followers
April 24, 2009
This had my favorite poem of the day. She compared Lightning to a duel. It was so fun.
Profile Image for Sarahjeanne.
53 reviews1 follower
July 29, 2009
Picture Book: a collection of vivid free-verse poems about wind, thunderstorms, mirrors, shadows and more. These would be really fun to use in dance lessons to explore space, movement, and shape.
Profile Image for Andrea.
51 reviews1 follower
October 9, 2011
Very cute, quick read of poems that relate several aspects of life to dancing.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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