Customer Reviews

Dance with Your Heart: Tales and Poems That the Heart Tells

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The enchanting tales and poems in this book dance on the page. They are well written and exuberant. With a gentle touch, they inspire and teach profound life lessons in the manner of mythic tales and fables. After stories such as "The Greedy Cat" and "The Dishonest Fox" bring a knowing smile to your face, they will delight your children and grandchildren through multiple readings.

Dance with Your Heart is Shirley Cheng's (to know more pl. see www.shirleycheng.com) collection of short stories and poems, some of them written when she was in school. Some of the stories and poems were published in local press and won awards. While I could not appreciate her poems much (because I am not much of a poetry fan), I did enjoy reading her stories, which show her very vivid imagination.

The True Leader is about the true traits of a great leader, including kindness and courage, willingness to sacrifice oneself for the sake of others. A doe is portrayed as teaching the apparent leader lion, a few lessons in real leadership.

Fancella, the Fire Goddess is a fanciful tale about why a fire is hot, which apparently was not initially so. Interesting to read.

Smell the Roses is a heart-warming story about the transforma-tion of a man by a girl dying of cancer.

There are many more stories, most of them good to read, with some useful moral.

Shirley writes in a fluid style, though the language gets a bit flowery at times. Those who like to escape into a world of fantasy for a few hours by reading the stories will like the book.

The book is well printed with an easy-to-read font. It will be a good buy for children and parents who like their children to read some good stories. It will also be a good addition to libraries and schools.

- Swamy

Title: Dance With Your Heart
Author: Shirley Cheng
Publisher: [...]
ISBN: 1411618580
Genre: Nonfiction

This collection of short stories and poetry will lift your spirit as you
read. Filled with color and colorful imagery, bright and wonderful
characters, you'll find yourself smiling as you read.

Some of the stories are reminiscent of the old fables we grew up with, such
as the story about the cat who had a bird but wanted the larger one held by
another cat reflected in the water. A very pleasant way to step back into
our childhoods and relive a pleasant moment while building new memories of a
new author's work.

Or perhaps they'll remind you of the evenings spent sitting by the fire
listening to an elderly relative tell stories they'd learned in childhood.
They might also bring back the lovely tales we remember our mothers reading
to us about fairies and other creatures who dwell in the netherland of
memory stirring fiction.

Talented Shirley Cheng's work is one of pleasant associative memories that
you may want to read more than once. There is a lot more contained in this
collection than just once-upon-a-time. Read and enjoy. I did.

About the Author:
Shirley Cheng, daughter of Juliet Cheng, was born in 1983, in Albany, New York. Shirley's birth was the beginning of a new world for both mother and daughter. Shirley was diagnosed with severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at only eleven months old. Shirley Cheng's life consisted of many years of hospitalization which caused her ability to receive an education a major delay. Shirley did not start her schooling until she was eleven years old. It took her only 180 days to master grade levels in all areas, and was then transferred to a sixth grade class room. When Shirley was seventeen, she lost her eyesight due to the intake of digestive enzymes, even more reason for her to feel like giving up, but it only challenged her to strive higher and higher.
Through Shirley's own words, she inspires many saying, "Although I'm blind, I can see far and wide; even though I'm disabled, I can climb high mountains. Let the ropes of hope haul you high!" Shirley Cheng's self-esteem is truly glowing through her continuous smiles and words as you read her story.
Shirley wrote three books at the age of 20 years old.
Here are just a few more achievements that Shirley has managed to earn:
- co-authored a self-improvement book with Jack Canfield & John Gray, Bob Proctor, Alan Cohen and Richard Carlson, entitled "101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, Volume 2"; Author of "The Revelation of a Star's Endless Shine"; Author of the book, "Dance with Your Heart", and also Author of the book "Daring Quests of Mystics".
-is an advocate of parental rights in children's medical care, aide/caregiver monitoring and screening for students with special needs and people with disabilities, and world peace.
- tied for 1st place in the second Annual Be the Star You Are!(tm) national Writing Contest, garnering her a third live appearance on the nationally syndicated radio program, "Be the Star You Are"!
- Plans to attend college at Harvard University, where she plans to earn doctorates in microbiology, zoology, astronomy, physiology, and pathology after a successful eye surgery.
Shirley's story is not only about her challenges and misfortunes, but she also shares with us the love and respect that her mother showed over and over again. It is clear where Shirley has gained most of her positive attributes. Her mother's never-ending energy to keep moving forward reaches out and touches you throughout Shirley's story.
Here is another quote from Shirley that will bring you to another sweet side of Shirley Cheng's personality: "I've made it one of my life's missions to touch as many people as I possibly can to bring humor, hope, and healing," says Shirley, whose personal motto is "A dancing heart teaches true."
Shirley is an excellent writer and poet with a charm and intelligence that would make anyone envious. Her age and illness has never stood in her way of succeeding and embracing everything that life has to offer.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
"Dance with Your Heart", invites you into Shirley Cheng`s journey of thoughts and words. She will take you through colors, feelings, visions, senses and lessons in life. You will share some of the author's thoughts through her stories of frogs, cats, stars, goddess's, fish and turtles. You will be enlightened by her poems of never discovered lands, clouds, flickers of hope, passing storms, memories, wishes, colors of rainbows and more.
Reading," Dance with Your Heart", will do more than fill your heart with dances. It will reach deep inside of you and awaken your most inner passion while also renewing your respect and love for nature's life.
The stories in this book are kept short and written with impeccable talent and imagination. The poems are light hearted, refreshingly lyrical and a true enjoyment to read.
"Dance with Your Heart", reminds its readers of the simplest lessons in life, such as believing in oneself, ones inner beauty and also self-worth.

Womensselfesteem.com highly recommends, "Dances with Your Heart" to every type of reader. It is a true gem to read, one to be very much appreciated.
Thank You Shirley Cheng for sharing a bit of your wonderful mind with us!

"Dance With Your Heart, Tales and Poems That the Heart Tells, is a moving collection of short stories and verse. Illustrated with such detail that readers will easily envision the settings of each story and poem."

"Shirley Cheng brilliantly conveys messages of hope, love and inspiration in this thought provoking work of literature. It is beautifully written, offering deep reflection on life from various perspectives. Each page is filled with wonderful life lessons that are expressed with naturalness, simplicity and profound wisdom."

"This remarkable book will take readers on a magical journey discovering unknown lands with wonderment and enjoyment."

"Dance With Your Heart"is a wonderful collection of poetry and short stories that celebrate life while gently sharing the wisdom of Shirley Cheng. Her personal journey as cited in the 'About The Author' Section is worth the price of the book by itself. She exemplifies the final stanza of one my favorite poems, titled 'Make It A Promise':
Let the love be lit
Take that giant leap
Love cannot be kept aside
Promise to love with your whole soul

That seems to capture the essence of both Shirley Cheng and "Dance With Your Heart."

Dance with your Heart, Tales & Poems that the Heart Tells by Shirley Cheng is a simple to read book fo fantasy short stories and poems, that is a perfect read for any age. My favorite is how the rainbow came to be. In each story Cheng shares her insights, emotions and thoughts with the reader. A book that will make you stop and think.

Dance with Your Heart
(Tales and Poems That the Heart Tells)
Shirley Cheng 2004

(...)
Looking for a gentle read with purity of heart and soul? `Dance with Your Heart' will humble and remind readers of their blessings. There are twenty-three short stories and thirty-four poems offering lessons, mindful thoughts, and whimsical tales and myths of magical once-upon-a-times. Many adults will recognize the lessons, but will appreciate the reminders. Provides great life-lesson profiles children can relate to. Perfect for those seeking quick, clear, and uncomplicated tales.

The author, young Shirley Cheng's personal story is amazing enough. She's a survivor of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed at eleven months old. She dealt with constant pain growing up, went in and out of hospitals, and lost her eyes sight when she was in tenth grade. She will soon be receiving eye-surgery, and hopes it will be successful, for she'd like to earn science doctorates at Harvard University. Through her extraordinary passion and strength she's conquered overwhelming obstacles. Among other things, she's authored three books by the age of twenty-one.

One of my favorite stories from this book is entitled, `Smell the Roses.' It's about a doctor who learns a valuable lesson through an unexpected and surprising source. The ending brings the whole tale into perspective with a crystal clear lesson.

One of my favorite poems is entitled, `Dance with Your Heart.' Ironically it's also the book's title. The poem's message brings to light that although life contains worries and pain, it is good to concentrate on and remember its delights too. The poem reminds readers to pay attention to their heart's desires, and to dance; to fly.

Cheng's graceful storytelling and poetry not only is a pleasure, but awe-inspiring, as her wisdom and understanding at such a young age is profound. Her resounding words are of encouragement and of good. She believes happiness begins in the heart and that readers should allow themselves the freedom to dance with their heart. A luminous read.

I think that the stories in this book take you into a world of fantasy that is so wonderful it lets you know how much can be seen whether you are sighted or not. This young women sees more than a lot of people who are sighted. My children and I loved this book and Shirley. She is a beacon for anyone who has ever been told you can't do that because you are handicapped
She has and still is making a liar out of them.

I feel blessed to have her literary works in my life. Love you Shirley keep on doing what you do.

"The exquisite, vast blackness stretched endlessly across the celestial heavens; a blackness that would penetrate anyone's soul who was to take in its darkness. But if one looked very carefully, one could suddenly see a single spark forming amidst the caliginous atmosphere." ~pg. 63

Shirley Cheng presents poetry and creative original stories as an expression of her life's experience, dreams and at times stunning observations of life's complexity. Stories of dandelions, rainbows, gods and goddesses and oceans all explore creative explanations for natural phenomena. In "Seeking the Truth" she explores inner and outer beauty and then in "Fiery Passion" she writes beautifully about dances of fire.

In "We Should Have Listened!" Shirley Cheng shows an advanced understanding of human nature and consequence:

A heavenly garden, You gave us
To be in with You forever
Yet, it was not enough
We should have listened

The poetry and myths alternate throughout the book, creating a nice contrast between magical imaginings and portraits of life and love. I enjoy the descriptions in the stories that seem to reflect a purity of soul and may mirror an inner world that serves as a playful freeing experience where anything is possible and goddesses paint images into life.

"Being a goddess, everything she painted came to life..."

Children will enjoy the "Funny Animal Poem" and many of the stories could be read to children. Shirley Cheng also writes about ghosts in a story you might want to read on a dark night when the wind is howling around the house.

The poem I loved the most was "Things I Wish For:"

"I want to be loved, never against, always for
Where the truth is never untold
Sentiments with meanings that stretch
everlasting
Words are gentle, sweet, and kind
Not a harsh tone can be heard
Memories refreshing as cool, running streams"

Reading Dance with Your Heart is a soul cleansing experience and explores the dreams, imaginings and longings of a beautiful soul.

~The Rebecca Review