Review of BABY DANCED THE POLKA

Beaumont, Karen. Jennifer Plecas. (Ill.) 2004. BABY DANCED THE POLKA. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0-8037-2587-6

In this Texas 2 x 2 recommended book, Mama and Papa don’t give up on trying to put Baby down for a nap. Baby, however, has other plans! Karen Beaumont shares a lively story about this common event which is anything but mundane.

All children have had some experience with nap time and many children have at least begun to learn about farms and farm animals. The coupling of this plot and setting provides a sense of familiarity for readers. By using rhyme and repetition, Beaumont has written a story which encourages young children to make predictions and read along. Further, her use of alliteration in silly sentences such as, “Baby danced the cha-cha with the chocolate-colored…cow!” makes them more fun to listen to and to echo. Jennifer Plecas provides illustrations using a variety of painterly techniques. The combination of ink, paints and pencils gives the illustrations texture and depth. Not only are the illustrations pleasing to the eye, they are a critical piece of the story. For example, the pictures explain that Baby’s dance partners are stuffed animals, rather than real farm animals. They also provide snippets of things to come. Plecas incorporates visual clues of future dance partners, thus inviting children to look closely at the pictures and predict what will happen next. Finally, the engineering of BABY DANCED THE POLKA enhances the invitation of audience participation. Through the use of lift-the-flap pages, this book incorporates a kinesthetic aspect to reading which can make all the difference in holding a young child’s attention. From the literary elements, to style, to illustrations; this engineered picture storybook is perfectly suited for very young audiences. Highly recommended for 2-6 year olds.