Tuesday, Dec. 08, 2009

Elephants Cannot Dance! by Mo Willems

I love fun picture books, but I really love fun picture books with a message. In this delightful tale, Piggie wants to teach Gerald the elephant to dance. "Elephants cannot dance," says Gerald. "Look it up. Page 11." But Piggie deftly spots a loophole: "It does not say that you cannot try." Elephant takes a few steps, and, well, do you remember that Seinfeld episode in which Elaine dances at her office party? Just as Elephant has had enough, out pop some secret admirers who thought he cut a mean rug. Soon Elephant is teaching them his moves, encouraging them with those magic words, "Keep trying!"