Our October Book of the Month is A Dance to Remember – a bright and vibrant children’s picture book by Lorna Liverpool and illustrated by Sarah-Louse Hibbs.
As well as the thousands of books generously donated by publishers every year, we also receive occasional donations from authors who give us copies of the books they have written. We love this one from London writer Lorna Liverpool, which tells the story of Kaa’hina, a young girl preparing to take part in a Festival of Dance. The night before the festival she is wracked with nerves and convinced she will falter and fail. Her parents present her with a special ankh pendant passed down from her grandmother, and reassure her all will be well. The ankh takes Kaa’hina on a magical journey to Africa where she dances with her ancestors, who tell her, “All that we can do, you can do. Trust in yourself. We will always be with you” – and her festival dance is a huge success.
With its bright, joyful illustrations, this book sends a clear message to any child facing a crisis of confidence: trust in yourself, we believe in you, all will be well. It includes questions at the end to help parents and teachers discuss the issues raised. Some copies are already on their way to community libraries in Zimbabwe, along with thousands more brand new books for their Book Aid International Children’s Corners.
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