![]() ![]() Turn on music, and most children will start to move – or as I say in my book: ![]() When I write, I think of the children who don’t typically see themselves in books, and one of my goals is for them to feel valued and validated when they read my books.įor Let’s Dance! I had a clear vision of showcasing underrepresented and marginalized children, engaging in the joy of dance. As an educator, I want to use my books as a vehicle to teach- especially about topics and themes that others may not feel comfortable writing about or talking about with children. I am thrilled to have this added layer of cultural representation in my book! My editor, Jes Negrón of Boyds Mills & Kane, expanded upon my vision for diversity by recognizing that some of my words describe cultural dances like flamenco (Spain), kathak (India), and long sleeve dance (China). To illustrate the variety of "accents," I wanted to ensure that the book portrayed an inclusive representation of children: gender, race, ability. After all, dance is a language we all speak even though we have different "accents." I decided to write a fun, rhyming story that celebrates the universality of dance. ![]() This book was inspired by children who love to dance, especially my nieces, Zorah and Anyah. What inspired you to write Let's Dance! ? We're so excited to share this interview with Valerie Bolling, author of Let's Dance! Be sure to get your copy at retailers online. ![]()
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