Customer Reviews

Rosie and the Dance of the Dinosaurs

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Rosie is learning to play The Dance of the Dinosaurs for her upcoming piano recital, but she's stumped by a tricky passage towards the end, made even more difficult by the fact that she was born with only nine fingers. She and her mother are holding down the fort since her father took a job in Milwaukee; their small mining town is gradually becoming a ghost down as the mines shut down.

Rosie's mother is fragile and terrified at her seeming inability to run the house and take care of the two of them in her father's absence. She's scared by the smallest things, and Rosie doesn't want to upset her more when she thinks that someone is sneaking into their house when they're not home. She and her friend Angela decide to try and catch the burglar themselves, with some serious consequences.

Running throughout the story is Rosie's struggle with learning the tricky passage in the Dance of the Dinosaurs. She's frustrated by her inability to play the piece as smoothly and quickly as she thinks she should be able to, although everyone from her parents to her piano teacher tells her to slow down and play at the speed that best works for her. Rosie begins to wonder if nine fingers ARE enough, especially after the spoiled rich Mary Jean gets the coveted final spot in the recital.

In the end, Rosie solves her problem with a little help from her father, who sends her a family of stuffed dinosaurs that look like her own family, and she ends up being the star of the recital after an unexpected turn of events. This is a sweet, quick read that combines belief in oneself with the love of family and fear of the unknown, and is recommended for young readers who enjoy mysteries (and those who play piano, of course).