Dance, Tanya

Tanya

by Patricia Lee Gauch, Satomi Ichikawa (Illustrator)

More than anything in the world, Tanya loves to dance. But when her mother says she is too small to take dance lessons like her older sister, Tanya puts down her tutu and surprises everyone with a very special recital of her own. "A lovely book."--Kirkus Reviews. An ALA Notable Children's Book. Full color.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Juvenile

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Patricia Lee Gauch is an author who has written over 30 works of children's literature. In 1993, Gauch was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. She has been a resident of the Basking Ridge section of Bernards Township, New Jersey.

Reviews

[Coralie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It may be silly of me, but this book has always made me tear up a little bit. I LOVE this story. I danced as a little kid, so this story hits home for me. It's sweet, simple, and to the point. Families love each other, they support each other, and they cheer each other on. Dance Tanya is a sweet, sweet little story about a little girl with a big, big heart and big, big dreams.

Re-read: 12-9-16
Re-read: 12-14-19

[Franci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gelees as "Dans, Tessa" in Afrikaans.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story of a young girl who wants to dance like her big sister. The yearning and frustration of being too small is palpable. The narrative is engaging and the illustrations are nicely detailed and give a sense of nostalgia.

[Tatiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Little Tanya loved to dance.”

With that line, my youngster-self was captivated. Tanya sounded a lot like Tatja, my childhood nickname. And I, too, loved to dance--with much the same toddler-awkwardness as Tanya, I’m sure. Unlike Tanya, I didn’t have a big sister who also loved dance. Tanya does her best to imitate Elise’s pirouettes and arabesques, even if the attempts are less graceful. Most of all, Tanya wants to take dance class, but is too little. That is, until after one of Elise’s recitals, when Tanya proves herself a dancing queen.

The team of Satomi Ichikawa and Patricia Lee Gauch illuminate the plight of the younger sibling who is eager to shine, while also telling the story of everyone with a dancer’s heart. The illustrations breath and sway to a silent beat. Sometimes returning to a childhood favorite perplexes you--why ever did I like that? But Dance, Tanya only swelled in me a fresh warmth and fondness for a little girl’s freedom to dream, persevere, and dance.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story about Tanya, who loves to dance. Tanya's big sister is already in ballet class, and even gets to be in a beautiful performance--and wear lipstick, which is never allowed, oh joys!--but while Tanya dances and practices with her sister at home, she is too little to take ballet class. But when Tanya gives her own performance in the living room after Big Sister's ballet recital, her mom realizes that maybe Tanya's spirit is big enough for ballet, after all. Highly recommended for anyone who loves to dance, especially for little ones waiting for their turn to slip into their ballet slippers.

[Amy Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book and have a passion for dance myself so can easily relate to Tanya being excited to join dance classes, as other children may also feel. The pictures are great and give an amazing contrast between Elise's and Tanya's dancing. The main theme throughout this book is about having siblings and growing up. This is an important topic to talk about as many children often feel jealous of their older siblings doing things that they can't. The book explains that as long as they are patient, they will get what they want which is a great message to teach from a young age. I would read this book before the first dance lesson of the year to introduce dancing to the class.

[☁︎ ☾ ｡⋆ morgan ⋆｡☽ ☁︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

a beautiful -- seriously, this art is gorgeous -- book about Tanya's dreams and wishes of dancing. a good introduction to dance for younger children who may not be old enough to be in dance classes yet. this included some ballet vocabulary and featured basic dance moves for children to engage with. Tanya reminded me so much of my childhood self and all of my old, fond memories of dance that i teared up a little. très bien!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't seen this book in so long. Man, it's so cute. The art is beautiful, and the narrative is so lovely. Growing up in ballet, I knew well the feeling of watching the "big girls" dance and prepare for the shows, and wanting to be just like them. It captures the delicate nostalgia of dance classes and ballet recitals so well.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about a little girl who can't wait to join her older sister at ballet lessons.

Bonus, my daughter gave me a demonstration of what she's been learning at ballet after we finished reading this.

[LadyHague · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is delicate, charming and real! I love the touch of French in mommas voice. The artwork is perfect! The story simple but easy to identify with. One the better (if not the best) children’s ballet picture book so far!

[The Campbell Family · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, simple story of a young girl wanting to be a ballet dancer like her older sister.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was a little girl and now my 3 year old daughter loves it too! It’s so much fun to read, and the illustrations have stuck with me for many years.

[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tender little book of a little girl that aspires to dance and be a ballerina like her older sister.

[Riani Halim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely & heartwarming

[Elena Caballero · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about two sisters that love to dance. The little sister, Tanya would follow her older sister Elise and practice with her all the time. They would always dance together, even though Tanya was too little. Elise had a dance recital and Tanya was so proud of her sister. At the end of the book, Tanya received her out leotard and slippers and was able to join her older sister in dance classes.

This book was so cute, and I was able to relate to it to when I was a little girl with my sister. My personal connection to this book is that I too loved to dance and follow my sister around and do everything together. As I got older, I too was able to relate more to her and be a better dancer. I recommend this book because it shows the importance of love and family and how children should always follow their dreams. The themes I found in this book were love, family, and dedication.

[Mellanie C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13118734

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another simple story, yet I enjoyed it. Tanya, the younger sister that isn't old enough to dance with her sister in class, takes the whole story in stride as she isn't given a chance to join until after her sister's recital when she dances for the family at the after party. She, of course is given the chance to begin attending ballet class after that and it ends happily. More stories should be so pleasant.

[Caroline Barnett]

I can relate to this story because i always wanted to do what my older sister did and be recognized for it. Tanya never gave up on dancing even though she was too young for lessons. She danced and danced until everyone recognized she was a dancer too. This book is great for second child's in a family.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the book of my childhood! I have never found another book that describes the joy, exhiliration, and beauty of ballet, just as I have always felt it. This book may as well have been written about me, because it IS me, to a T! By far the best children's book about ballet!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Introduces some basic ballet/dance vocabulary words within a sweet story about a little girl wanting to dance just like her older sister. References drinking coffee.

[Rachel Swords · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was little! It reminded me so much of the relationship my sister and I had when it came to dance lessons.

[Lisa Nagel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple yet sweet book about a younger sister who feels left out as she watches her older sister take ballet.She finds her own way to join the fun and soon is old enough to take lessons too.

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Tanya really loves to dance and is always copying her big sister, Elise. When will Tanya be big enough to go to ballet class?

[Megen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a dancer, I appreciate how Tanya was encouraged to dance and her parents supported her.

[Miss Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was ballet! Of course, I loved it.

[Jenn Studaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A completely charming book that reminds me of my childhood dancing days!