Book Description
for A Young Dancer by Valerie Gladstone and Jose Ivey
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
This vibrant and energetic photographic essay showcases the life of seventh grader Iman Bright, a dancer at the prestigious Ailey School in New York City. Unlike other non-fiction titles about young dancers, Iman’s story revels in all aspects of her life, rather than focusing on a performance. Iman, a lithe and lovely African American preteen, shares the joy she experiences while dancing and how it’s “wonderful to have another way to express yourself besides words.” Iman tells about her challenging training at dance school, chats about her friends at regular school, and explains how her schedule also includes room for violin lessons and hanging out at the pool. Clear journalistic style photos chronicle Iman’s fluid and engaging diary of her life as a dancer. (Ages 9–12)
CCBC Choices 2010. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2010. Used with permission.