The Thumbtack Dancer begins – “Just like yesterday and the day before, Gus KICKED out of bed, LACED-UP his thumbtack sneakers and did his teeth-brushing dance.
Next he did his bed-making dance, and then his getting-dressed dance.
His mama knew Gus was up because she could hear, the tip-a-tap, rap-a-slap, flap-a-dap thumbtack rhythms through the kitchen ceiling.”
Gus has a dance for everything! Gus is a most promising, most energetic and most talented young dancer who figures out how to make enough money to upgrade his tip-a-tap thumbtack sneakers to a new pair of real tap shoes.
Along the way, he uses his public street dancing with his thumbtack shoes to bring the change he needs and goes – Slap- a-dee-dap, slap-a-dee-dap – down the sidewalk, and right up to the big red door of the dance studio.
Be inspired by Gus, his energy and drive and inventiveness as this creative young man figures out the next steps he needs to take.
Leslie Tryon is the author of the clever, charming and inventive Albert series and several other books for young readers. She is the illustrator of Alma Flor Ada’s Dear Peter Rabbit and With Love, Little Red Hen. She has received an ALA Notable book recognition, a Parents Choice Honor and an Ezra Jack Keats Award for Excellence in the Arts. Leslie has written that she might have begun her career as an author and illustrator much earlier if she hadn’t become a dancer first. With her experience as a tapper, Leslie has stepped into her own world of dance with The Thumbtack Dancer.
Jan Spivey Gilchrist is the award-winning illustrator-author of seventy-four children’s books. Dr. Gilchrist illustrated the highly acclaimed picture book The Great Migration: Journey to the North, written by Eloise Greenfield. This book was recognized with a Coretta Scott King Honor, named a Junior Library Guild Best Book, was an NAACP Image Award nominee, a CCBC Best Book, and a Georgia State Children’s Book Award nominee. Jan received a Coretta Scott King Award for her illustrations in Nathaniel Talking and a Coretta Scott King Honor for her illustrations in Night on Neighborhood Street, both written by Eloise Greenfield. In The Thumbtack Dancer, Jan brings Gus’ moves to life and puts his talent on display.
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Diane Dillon –
“Leslie’s uplifting and joyful story about a little boy’s passion and determination to dance will leave you smiling. Jan’s alternating misty and sharper watercolor images echo the energy and joy in this inspiring story.”
– Diane Dillon, esteemed illustrator, who with her husband, Leo Dillon, collaborated to create award winning illustrations garnering two Caldecott medals, four New York Times Best Illustrated Awards, four Boston Globe / Horn Book Awards, and the Society of Illustrators Gold Medal.
Gene Medler –
“So many wonderful lessons weave together as the art and the story
s-l-i-d-e together in a perfect duet.”
– Gene Medler, founder and director of the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble (NCYTE), director of the NC Rhythm Tap Festival, faculty member of the Ballet School of Chapel Hill and Elon University Performing Arts Faculty.
Michelle Dorrance –
“Hard work, persistence, and positivity! The Thumbtack Dancer will engage the eyes, ears, hearts, minds, and FEET of all young readers!”
– Michelle Dorrance, highly acclaimed dancer and choreographer, founder and artistic director of Dorrance Dance, 2015 MacArthur ‘Genius Grant’ Fellow, 2014 Alpert Award Winner, 2013 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award Winner.