The Dancing Man [Hardcover]

Ruth Bornstein (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

This beloved picture book is celebrating its twentieth birthday with a new edition, completely reillustrated in full color by the author. In this wise, eloquent story with the timeless resonance of a folk tale, an orphan boy named Joseph receives a pair of silver shoes and with them the power to dance joy and hope into the lives of others. Joseph dances his way through the world until it is time to pass the shoes-and the dancing man's destiny-to another boy. The text is ably complemented by radiant pastel drawings, bringing this fable about the rejuvenating power of art to a new generation of young readers.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3AFirst published in 1978 with somber pencil drawings and in a smaller format, this newly illustrated edition brings color and lightness to a picture book that pays tribute to the joy of dance and the pursuit of a dream. Young Joseph, an orphan in a poor and gloomy Baltic village, wants nothing more than to dance. The mysterious elderly man he meets by the shore gives him a pair of silver shoes; when he grows into them, they give him the courage to set out along the dusty road "even as far as the southernmost sea." He dances over the years for solemn villagers, an ailing child, a weary peddler until he, too, feels weariness in his bones. Finally reaching his ultimate destination, he meets a young boy and bequeaths his unique footwear to the next generation. The lyrical text is unchanged from the original. It is spare and graceful and successfully conveys the ability of dance to capture the magic in the ordinary. The oil pastels fill double-page spreads and bring rich and vibrant colors to Joseph's odyssey, from the deep blues of the night to the orange and pink of the setting sun. There's a slight change in perspective that increases proximity to the people Joseph meets along the way, inviting readers into each encounter. From Joseph's open-armed welcome on the cover to the cyclical satisfaction of the conclusion, young listeners will experience the wonder and power of this art form.ACarol Ann Wilson, Westfield Memorial Library, NJ
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Ruth Lercher Bornstein has written and illustrated numerous books for Clarion, including THE DANCING MAN, LITTLE GORRILA, RABBIT'S GOOD NEWS, and THAT'S HOW IT IS WHEN WE DRAW. A painter and longtime folk dancer, Ruth lives in Santa Monica, California.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books (March 23, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395834295
• ISBN-13: 978-0395834299
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 10.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #387,566 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars luminous color, August 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Dancing Man (Hardcover)

A new edition of the 1978 book brings this somber, wordy, story back to life with large, lush, color pastels. The story, about a boy who is given magic shoes, which take him on a dancing journey, may not have tremendous child appeal, but the luminous color will attract new readers.

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for kids, December 20, 2010

By 

Andrew Behrens (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dancing Man (Hardcover)

I am not a professional dancer, but many of my close friends are. I find that dancers, almost as a rule, doubt the wisdom or usefulness of their career choice, and that this attitude may linger for years. It stunts their growth and causes many to turn away and pursue something they don't love. "The Dancing Man" is an eloquent reminder of how much the world needs those who will dance for us. On more than one occasion, reading this book to my kids has brought tears to my eyes. The title character sacrifices everything, with no other objective than to create beauty. Lovers of dance or the arts in general will find this story speaks directly to the soul.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Dancing Man, April 21, 2009

By 

G. Pete Padilla "bayoboy" (Los Alamos, New Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Dancing Man (Hardcover)

When my daughter was a small child she had many books but only a few that had to be read again and again, The Dancing man was one of those books, and it was one of my personal favorites to read to her. She would imagine dancing around the world, like Joseph. I highly rate this book.