Tap-Dance Fever
Kindergarten-Grade 2–Annabelle Applegate's tapping toes have worn out the linoleum in her mama's kitchen and dug a hole in the schoolhouse floor. The townsfolk are upset by her antics and blame her for their problems, including broken eyeglasses and chickens that refuse to lay eggs. They put obstacles in her path, and Deputy Thistledown steals her tap shoes, but nothing stops Annabelle's enthusiasm for dancing. One day, she encounters dozens of rattlesnakes near Mrs. Pontoon's henhouse, and they dance along with her. She leads them to the fairgrounds stage, and in no time becomes a champion and celebrity. Tourists come from miles around, and the town prospers. Cote's appealing watercolor-and-gouache cartoon illustrations are lively and expressive, and portray a multicultural community. Fans of Brisson'sWanda's Roses(Boyds Mills, 1994) will enjoy this jazzy new protagonist. This toe-tapping tale will dance its way into the hearts of readers, who will appreciate its humor and the resourcefulness of its heroine.–Be Astengo, Alachua County Library, Gainesville, FL