Fritz Danced The Fandango [Hardcover]

Alicia Potter (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A fresh, funny ode to friendship and individuality, written by exciting new author Alicia Potter and illustrated by bestselling author-illustrator of TICKLE THE DUCK Ethan Long.

Fritz is just like every other mountain goat, except for one small difference: He likes to dance the fandango.
Unfortunately, Fritz finds himself the object of ridicule among the other goats, so he sets out to find a herd that will accept him. Along the way, he meets a yodeling sheep named Liesl and a glockenspiel-playing dog named Gerhard, both of whom are also looking for their places in the world. While Fritz never finds any other dancing mountain goats, he does find true friends (and willing dance partners) in Liesl and Gerhard.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2—Feeling that his talents are unappreciated, a goat leaves his herd in the mountains to follow his muse and find a fandango-dancing flock. Alas, he can only find a yodeling ewe and a glockenspiel-playing dog. The three of them wander together trying fruitlessly to find dancing goats, until Fritz goes off alone, giving up hope of fulfillment. Then the sound of hooves brings him back to find his friends dancing the fandango and offering themselves as his new "herd." The joyful conclusion features dancing, yodeling, and glockenspiel pinging as the pals cavort across the hills. This homage to following one's dream and the value of friendship features short sentences and a straightforward plot. The workmanlike art depicts big-eyed, daffy-looking characters set against a spare, Saturday-morning-cartoon background of blue sky and purple hills. Libraries in need of additional material celebrating individuality might consider this title.—Marge Loch-Wouters, La Crosse Public Library, WI
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About the Author

ALICIA POTTER holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College and works as a freelance journalist and book reviewer. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press (May 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0545075548
• ISBN-13: 978-0545075541
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,344,376 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rich Language and Pictures, Meaningul but Fun Story, July 4, 2009

By 

cinnamin "mama" (oakland, ca) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fritz Danced The Fandango (Hardcover)

This is a lovely and fun story that skips along with a good rhythm, beautiful words and lively pictures. Parents and children alike will learn vocabulary from this book - yet its story is still very approachable for all ages. There has been a lot of debate about school curriculum in my community around diversity and acceptance to prevent bullying behaviors- I think this book would fit in great at schools as well as at home to foster a message of welcoming difference in a fun way.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book about friendship., May 4, 2009

By 

nicole hynes "reading mom" (Burlington, VT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fritz Danced The Fandango (Hardcover)

Well written book about three friends who are true to themselves. My kids love it. I love reading it to them. Lots of energy and fun words - when is the last time you said glockenspiel? The illustrations are bright and upbeat - just look at the cover.

I would recommend this to any parent who wants their children to appreciate and nurture differences in themselves and in their friends. Whether you fandango, yodel, play a funky instrument or none of the above you will enjoy this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Ethan Long's drawings are fun and zany, September 19, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fritz Danced The Fandango (Hardcover)

Alicia Potter provides the fun FRITZ DANCED THE FANDANGO, telling of a mountain goat who loves to dance the fandango. Determined to find other open-minded goats, he journeys across the mountains to discover others looking for a unique place in the world. The only problem is - they are sheep. Will Fritz ever find his own herd? Ethan Long's drawings are fun and zany.