Browse Items · Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

Tags: performance

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How do you spell unfair? MacNolia Cox and the national spelling bee

Weatherford, Carole Boston

In 1936, an eighth grader becomes the first African American to win the spelling bee in Akron, Ohio. MacNolia gets a military band send off to the National Spelling Bee in Washington DC with her mother. MacNolia learns about racism and discrimination when she crosses into Maryland and arrives in Washington. She and another black girl are seated away from the other spellers and their families. MacNolia spells word after word with a calm and focused performance. The judges throw a curveball to stump her and MacNolia is determined out. Her triumph is that folks now learn that African American students are as smart as anyone.

Tags

african american, book, community, comparison, competition, discrimination, emotions, epilogue, feelings, foreword, hard work, history, homework, learning, letters, multicultural, newspaper, parents, performance, racism, respect, school, spelling, travel

The smart cookie

John, Jory//Oswald, Pete

Learn how to become a smart cookie when given a chance to be creative and make something unique just like you. When the day came to share something original at school, smart cookie read her poem out loud and everybody clapped and cheered. Smart cookie learned that you can be smart in many different ways and there is always more to learn!

Tags

baking, change, comparison, confidence, courage, creativity, differences, feelings, hard work, humor, imagination, intelligence, learning, math, numbers, performance, perspective, poetry, school, teacher, writing

A small miracle

Collington, Peter

This Christmas narrative is a moving visual narrative without words. A hungry, old woman leaves her home to find food in the snow but is sad to give up her treasured accordion for sale when no one gives her money for playing music in the village street. She experiences a theft in the streets and then observes vandalism in the church by a man on a motorcycle. The woman reassembles the nativity scene in the church for Christmas and later earns the mercy and support from the participants when she collapses in the snow. This story of Christmas has a surprise ending (A wordless book).

Tags

accordion, christmas, church, holidays, instrument, miracle, money, motorcycle, music, nativity, performance, poverty, robbery, seasons, shopping, sleep, snow, surprise, town, transportation, walking, winter

Happy feet: The savory ballroom lindy hoppers and me

Michelson, Richard

A father loves to dance. He also loves to retell the story about the opening of the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. He works hard and saves money so he can put up a shoe shine sign for his own business. When his son is born that day, the new club opens to a sharp-dressing, happy-dancing people from all backgrounds with black people and white people dancing together. The son is named Happy Feet, and he too dreams of dancing at the legendary ballroom someday.

Tags

african american, author's note, body parts, business, car, cleanliness, clothing, community, dance, dancing, feelings, friendship, happiness, hard work, history, language, multicultural, music, new baby, party, performance, shoes, signs

Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a deaf girl, changed percussion

Stocker, Shannon

Evelyn Glennie grew up in Scotland where her Dad played the accordion and her Mom played the organ. Evelyn played the piano and clarinet until she began to lose her hearing. But that did not stop her love of music. In secondary school, Evelyn played percussion instruments. Through the genius of Mr. Forbes, her music teacher, he had Glennie take out her hearing aids and make sounds that vibrated and resonated through her whole body. In fact, her whole body responded like one large hearing organ. She went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music and received the prestigious Queen's Commendation for both music and academics. Later, tthe Queen of England knighted her and the world listened as she toured to perform in forty countries and win two Grammy Awards.

Tags

body parts, five senses, hearing, instruments, learning, music, onomatopoeia, performance, rhythm, royalty, sounds, uniqueness

The great poochini

Clement, Gary

The Great Poochini lives with his owner, Hersh, and leaves at night to sing in the opera. Due to his talent, the Great Poochini is the lead singer and, on the night of the premiere, he is unable to leave his home. Then, after a robber breaks into Hersh's home and the Great Poochini scares him away, he makes it to the opera just in time for the show.

Tags

animals, italian, language, music, opera, performance, photograph, practice, robbery, shadows, singing

Going down home with daddy

Lyons, Kelly Starling

Alan looks forward to the annual family reunion at the farm where Daddy grew up, but everyone is suppose to share something special and Alan worries about arriving with empty hands.

Tags

car, celebration, family, feelings, geography, instruments, music, performance, reading, reunion, sharing, sleep, storytelling, tractor, travel, worry

Stage struck

DePaola, Tomie

Tommy knows the story of Peter Rabbit by heart. When his class decides to put on the production he wants to be cast in the roll of Peter. Tommy is so excited he does not pay attention to his teacher and as a result gets cast as Mopsy. However, Tommy has a plan to keep him in the spotlight.

Tags

acting, ambition, animals, attention, confidence, conflict, cooperation, creativity, dancing, disappointment, forgiveness, friendship, garden, humor, independence, listening, mouse, obedience, parents, performance, rabbit, school, self confidence

Oh, no! Where are my pants?

Hopkins, Lee Bennett

Fourteen poems about everyday life tell about friends moving away, forgetting your pants and the death of a class pet. Other poems include Winter Rabbit, Play Ball, Nightmare, and My Friend Is Gone.

Tags

animals, baseball, beach, birthday, camping, critical thinking, dancing, death, exercise, fair, feelings, friendship, moving, performance, poetry, rabbit, rhyme, sadness, school, self esteem, sports

Tap-dance fever

Brisson, Pat

Annabelle Applegate had Tap-dance fever. Her feet are constantly on the move, tapping everywhere she goes. The townsfolk are very aggrevated by her dancing. However, once tourists come to hear and see her tao-dance with the rattlesnakes, the townsfolk believe she was an asset to the community.

Tags

anger, animals, business, community, dancing, exercise, feelings, happiness, mischief, performance, persistence, rhythm, snake, success, wealth

The hallelujah flight

Bildner, Phil

James Banning fixes up an old plane to fly across the country from California to New York. James's courage and perseverance allows him to overcome many challenges during his 1932 trek across the United States (e.g., California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York).

Tags

accomplishment, adventures, african american, airplane, anger, bias, biography, bodies of water, celebration, challenges, community, courage, crowd, day, determination, direction, discrimination, dreams, feelings, food, geography, hard work, helping, heroism, kindness, machines, maps, monuments, mountains, multicultural, night, numbers, performance, prejudice, relationship, sky, storm, transportation, tree

Tree of hope

Littlesugar, Amy

Florrie is named after a famous African American actress of the 1920's. Florrie learns the importance of working hard. Having big dreams will help Florrie and her family achieve anything. They learn that the Tree of Hope reflects the glory days of Harlem's Lafayette Theatre- a time when a black man shines through the Great Depression.

Tags

actor, african american, art, body parts, buildings, caribbean, creativity, dancing, daydreaming, haitian, happiness, hunger, performance, play, relationship, rhythm, singing, song, theatre, tree, wish

A joyful day!

Stanbridge, Bobette

Cheerful bird has many nature-filled adventures with her tree friends and rock friends. Also meet Miss Annie Elephant who changes colors with her mood, and Selina Butterfly who changes patterns.

Tags

adventures, animals, bear, birds, butterfly, change, circus, colors, dreams, elephant, feelings, flowers, friendship, images, insects, instruments, moods, mouse, music, nature, pattern, performance, plants, rules, travel, tree, turtle

The bat boy and his violin

Curtis, Gavin

Reginald loves playing the violin. Every free moment Reginald practices his violin, but his dad wants him to play baseball instead. Reginald does not give up. Soon his dad realizes the value and talent that Reginald has for the violin.

Tags

acceptance, african american, ambition, baseball, bus, camping, car, celebration, crowd, dedication, discrimination, embarrassment, encouragement, family, feelings, games, happiness, hard work, helping, history, instruments, love, mistake, multicultural, music, performance, practice, relationship, running, sports, transportation

The piano man

Chocolate, Debbie

A young girl listens to her grandfather share his deep love for music and the piano. Grandfather shares the history of silent movies, Vaudeville, Ragtime, and Broadway. He never lets his passion for music end and continues to share it with his grandaughter.

Tags

african american, aging, author's note, body parts, careers, celebration, clothing, dancing, emotions, entertainment, exercise, family, feelings, film, grandparents, history, humor, instruments, marriage, medicine, memories, multicultural, music, new baby, opera, performance, presents, relationship, rhythm, sounds, technology, theatre, travel

Dooby dooby moo

Cronin, Doreen

Duck and his friends decide to participate in the county fair, behind Farmer Brown's back. Farmer Brown knows his animals are up to something, but doesn't know what. To keep them out of trouble, he takes them to the fair with him. Little does he knnow, that's exactly where they wanted to be!

Tags

animals, barn, cat, cow, dancing, day, dog, duck, fair, jumping, moon, mouse, newspaper, night, performance, pig, practice, reading, repetition, rhyme, sheep, sleep, song, stars, transportation, truck

Ella sets the stage

Amico, Carmela

Ella wants so badly to be in the school talent show, but she has no talent. She decides instead to join the talent show committee and helps make the show the best it can be. During the show, something unexpected happens and Ella comes to the rescue, finding her true talent: helping others.

Tags

animals, arabian, art, cooking, dancing, discovery, elephant, exercise, feelings, happiness, helping, heroism, identity, instruments, juggling, jumping, magic, music, performance, poetry, practice, puppets, sadness, school, shyness, song, sounds, support, writing

Dancing in the wings

Allen, Debbie

Sassy uses her unique characteristics and height to become a great ballet dancer. Sassy does not allow bullying from the other students to prevent her from trying out for a summer dance festival. Sassy learns the benefits of perseverence and self-esteem.

Tags

challenges, competition, dancing, depression, determination, dreams, embarrassment, family, feelings, glasses, humor, imagination, individuality, instruments, jealousy, multicultural, performance, persistence, playing, self esteem, stars, theatre, travel

Louanne pig in the talent show

Carlson, Nancy

Louanne's school is putting on a talent show. There's only one problem though: Louanne doesn't have a talent. When an unexpected turn of events causes Louanne to step up to the plate, she discovers her hidden talent: saving the day!

Tags

acrobat, acting, animals, bear, books, dancing, feelings, happiness, helping, instruments, performance, pig, practice, rabbit, reading, sadness, success, telephone

The incredible water show

Frasier, debra

A science fair project turns into a play for Mrs. Pages 5th grade students at Webster School. You will learn about atoms found in water and all the places where water is found. Discover why these students thing water is the most amazing substance on Earth.

Tags

awareness, bodies of water, clouds, cycle, discovery, earth, entertainment, environment, investigation, performance, rainbow, school, science, sea, teamwork, theatre, water

Drumbeat in our feet

Keeler, Patricia//Leitao, Julio T.

Informative passages and lyrical verse explore the history and rhythmic qualities of traditional African dance as performed long ago and today.

Tags

africa, african, african american, america, animals, celebration, ceremony, colors, congo, dancing, elephant, ethnic, exercise, generations, geography, history, instruments, learning, maps, monkey, multicultural, music, nonfiction, nonverbal communication, performance, rhythm, storytelling, traditions, village

Monster goes to the circus

Blance, Ellen & Cook, Ann

Monster takes a trip to the circus. While there, he sees many different circus performances. To everyone's surprise, Monster has an act to include himself into the circus ring.

Tags

acrobat, animals, circus, clowns, feelings, food, fun, juggling, monsters, nutrition, performance, safety, sports, success, surprises, worry

African dancing

Thomas, Mark

Children explore African dance with music and movement.

Tags

african, dancing, exercise, feelings, fun, happiness, instruments, learning, music, nonverbal communication, performance, photograph, sadness, storytelling

Beverly billingsly takes a bow

Stadler, Alexander

A young girl receives a trunk full of costumes for her birthday. Her new found love for acting has her trying out for the school play. On the day of auditions she gets stagefright. While, at first she is disappointed with the outcome, she makes the best of it in the end.

Tags

acting, friendship, performance, play, practice, progress, stagefright, stress management, support, theatre, uniqueness, verbal communication

Hip & Hop, don't stop!

Czekaj, Jef

Hip, a turtle from Slowjamz Swamp, and Hop, a rabbit from Breakbeat Meadow, both love to rap. Hip raps very slowly, and Hop raps very slowly. Animals of Slowjamz Swamp and Breakbeat Meadow don't socialize until one day Hip and Hop meet each other when they see a sign for a rapping contest. In this twist of the fable Tortoise and the Hare, Hip and Hop bring the animals of the swamp and meadow together through their performance.

Tags

animals, communication, comparisons, competition, conflict resolution, cooperation, creativity, dancing, decision making, fable, friendship, peer resistance, performance, problem solving, rabbit, reptiles, rhyme, turtle

Katy duck is a caterpillar

Capucilli, Alyssa

Katy Duck loves to dance. She especially loves dancing during springtime. When she arrives as Mr. Tutu's School of Dance, Mr. Tutu announces the dance recital will be a spring celebration. Katy Duck is so excited; however, when Mr. Tutu announces the parts, she is disappointed. Reluctantly, she practices her caterpillar moves. During the spring recital, her big entrance comes up so she slowly inches out. When she realizes new and exciting changes occur during springtime, she transforms into a beautiful butterfly!

Tags

animals, autumn, birds, butterfly, cat, celebration, chicken, conflict resolution, critical thinking, dancing, decision making, dog, duck, exercise, insects, mouse, nonverbal communication, performance, practice, rabbit, seasons, spring, swan, turtle, verbal communication

Bessie Smith and the night riders

Stauffacher, Sue

Emmarene always loved to listen to Blues music. When Bessie Smith comes to town, Emmarene can't wait to hear Bessie sing. Not everyone likes Bessie though. Emmarene and Bessie Smith have to stand up against people who tried to destroy their nights. And boy, could Bessie sing on stage and off!

Tags

african american, anger, author's note, bravery, clothing, courage, dancing, discrimination, feelings, fire, flowers, happiness, history, multicultural, music, nature, night, performance, sadness, show, singing, stars

Zorina ballerina

Gianni, Enzo

Zorina is considered too young to dance with the other elephants at the circus. The clowns, realizing how much Zorina wants to dance, teaches her. Modoc, the star elephant, becomes sick from eating too many peanuts. Zorina surprises everyone and dances so well that she becomes a star.

Tags

animals, circus, clowns, dancing, elephant, exercise, performance, persistence, surprises

Punch in new york

Provensen, Alice

Mr. Punch is separated from his fellow puppets when he is stolen by a thief. He has many adventures in New York City then is finally reunited with his puppet show. The puppets perform for the richest man in the world.

Tags

adventures, creativity, dolls, performance, puppets, robbery, separation, stress management, verbal communication

Arthur's birthday party

Hoban, Lilliam

Arthur's determination to have the best birthday party and be the best all-around gymnast causes him to be inconsiderate of the feelings of his sister and friends. When Arthur forgets to be fair and have fun at the competition, his younger sister is quick to point out that each chimpanzee has his or her own special skill to be honored with a medal at the birthday competition.

Show and tell

Munsch, Robert

It's show-and-tell day, and Benjamin wants to take in something extra special to school. When he decides to take his baby sister, it causes quite a commotion until mom shows up and saves the day.

Tags

baby, chaos, confusion, critical thinking, doctor, excitement, family, feelings, frustration, helping, parents, performance, school, sharing, siblings, verbal communication

The silver slippers

Koda-Callan, Elizabeth

A young girl is always out of step, but wishes to become a prima ballerina. Her mother gives her a silver slipper charm which raises her confidence to meet her dreams.

Tags

assertiveness, conflict resolution, dancing, decision making, dreams, exercise, family, fear, feelings, goal setting, hard work, parents, performance, presents, recreation, self confidence, self esteem

Ruby mae has something to say

Small, David

Ruby Mae, a woman from Texas, has a fear of talking in front of people. Her nephew designs a device to put on her head which she thinks helps her speak more eloquently. She learns a very important lesson in the end.

Tags

accomplishment, confidence, determination, fear, feelings, goal setting, performance, problem solving, speech, stress management

The little band and the inaugural parade

Moore, Margaret//Moore, John Travers

A little band from the small town of Cotton Corners has a dream to play at the Inaugural Parade in Washington. After overcoming many obstacles, the little band marches in the parade and even gives a special performance for the new president.

Tags

critical thinking, determination, music, parade, performance, politics, problem solving

Tutu

Chevance, Audrey

Isabelle Warren can't concentrate on ballet class because she keeps thinking about the tutu she is about to try on. At the costume shop, she tries on the tutu with the help of Holly, the director of the costume shop. Isabelle feels special in her tutu, and it shows as she performs with her class in front of an enthusiastic audience.

Tags

clothing, dancing, exercise, performance

Fox on stage

Marshall, James

Fox and his friends are bored, so they decide to put on a scary play for the neighborhood. The play goes wrong and instead of being scary it is the funniest play the neighbors have ever seen.

Tags

actor, animals, boredom, careers, fox, fun, humor, neighbors, performance, play, rain, weather

Lookin' for bird in the big city

Burleigh, Robert

Miles Davis loves music. Wherever he is, Miles can feel music. Miles dreams of playing his trumpet with the great saxophonist, Charlie Bird Parker, so he travels to New York City to find him. After many hours of searching, Miles finds Bird and the two play beautiful music together.

Tags

african american, assertiveness, birds, confidence, dreams, feelings, ferry, five senses, goal setting, imagination, instruments, listening, multicultural, music, performance, rhythm, sounds, subway, transportation

Bantam of the opera

Auch, Mary Jane

Luigi, a bantam rooster, has big dreams of becoming a star singer one day. All the other roosters ridicule him, saying he is a show-off. Then one day he hides in a farmer's truck and takes a trip to the opera. Soon he is the star of the show.

Tags

accomplishment, acting, ambition, animals, careers, chicken, courage, excitement, farm, goal setting, independence, music, opera, performance

Starring mirette and bellini

McCully, Emily Arnold

Young Mirette and the Great Bellini are high wire partners in Paris. While performing on a tour of Europe, they visit Russia where the people are not free. Bellini speaks to them about freedom during their act and is arrested. Then it is up to Mirette to be brave and rescue him from prison.

Milo's hat trick

Agee, Jon

Milo the magician had one more chance to pull a rabbit out of his hat or else he would be fired. While searching for a rabbit, he finds a bear. The bear is able to pretend his bones are made of rubber and agrees to jump out of Milo's hat. The show is a huge success until the bear becomes tired. Milo wonders what he will do until he realizes that he too can pretend his bones are made of rubber.

Tags

anger, animals, bear, bones, careers, clothing, disappearance, disappointment, entertainment, helping, magic, missing, performance, pretend, rabbit, restaurant, taxi, train, transportation

Donna jeans disaster

Williams, Barbara

Some of Donna Jean's family members are so sure she will fail in reciting a poem at a school program that they almost convince her that she cannot do it. Luckily, her uncle believes in her and helps her.

Tags

assertiveness, conflict resolution, family, goal setting, helping, nonverbal communication, peer resistance, performance, poetry, refusal skills, school, self esteem, verbal communication

A long long song

Delessert, Etienne

Acrobats and musicians appear out of nowhere and perform on the front steps of a town hall. The show takes place in a small New England village. Those who see them perform never forget who they are.

Tags

autumn, community, gymnastics, music, performance, seasons, snow, song, sports, spring, summer, weather, winter

The vegetable show

Brown, Laurie Krasny

Different vegetables put on a vaudeville show for a group of children to enhance their popularity. For example, Bud the Spud does some magic tricks where he becomes a bowl of mashed potatoes, french fries, and potato pancakes. Other vegetable performers include B.A. Dilly (pickle), Miss Lotta Root (carrot), and Super Chile (pepper). By the time the show is over, the children like their vegetables.

Tags

dancing, exercise, food, magic, nutrition, performance, song, vegetables

Zin!Zin!Zin!A violin

Moss, Lloyd

How do different musical instruments sound when they are played?All the different instruments play together at the end in an orchestral performance. Do they receive an encore?

Tags

five senses, instruments, music, performance, poetry, rhyme, sounds

Amazing grace

Hoffman, Mary//Binch, Caroline

Grace loves to act out stories or fantasies. When her school decides to put on a production of Peter Pan, she wants to be Peter. Everyone says she cannot because she is a black girl. She dances and practices a lot for the audition and at the audition it is evident that she will be the best Peter Pan.

Tags

acceptance, acting, african american, bias, confidence, dancing, Days of The Week, determination, exercise, fantasy, goal setting, multicultural, performance, school, self esteem, stereotypes, storytelling

Bravo, zan angelo!

Daly, Niki

Angelo Polo is a young boy who passionately wants to be a clown like his grandfather Zan Polo. His grandfather tells him that the theater is no place for a little boy. Finally, Zan Polo tells Angelo that he can be the little red rooster who crows in the last act. So, Angelo scurries and runs all over the city to prepare for his performance during the carnival. It turns out that Angelo is an excellent rooster and his grandfather agrees that the theater can be a place for a little boy.

Nutcracker noel

McMullan, Kate

Noel has always dreamed of being in a real ballet. When her teacher announces they will perform the Nutcracker, she is very excited -- until she learns that she will be a tree. Then she finds this better than her dream.

Tags

christmas, confidence, dancing, dreams, exercise, feelings, goal setting, holidays, performance, practice, sadness, self esteem, verbal communication

Rabbits on roller skates

Wahl, Jan

Rabbits skate into all sorts of mischief. They go over bridges, down hills, and through water as they dodge the police and end up at Championship Skate Night.

Tags

adventures, animals, competition, exercise, mischief, performance, rabbit, skating

Angelina on stage

Holabird, Katharine

Angeline and Henry are asked to do a play and both are excited. Angelina gets jealous when Henry gets to speak. During the performance, Henry gets nervous and Angelina saves him and the play.

Tags

conflict resolution, excitement, friendship, jealousy, nonverbal communication, performance, self confidence, selfishness, verbal communication

Joshua's masai mask

Hru, Dakari

When Joshua is pressured by his parents to play his African instrument in the school talent show, he is embarrassed because it is not as cool as the rap his friends will do. His uncle then gives him a magical mask which makes Joshua seem cool to other people. When he realizes he would rather make music with his Kalimmba, he is a hit at the talent show.

Tags

african american, competition, embarrassment, empathy, fable, family, instruments, magic, music, parents, performance, school

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