Gerald the giraffe longs to dance, but his legs are too skinny and his neck is too long. His knees buckle whenever he tries to twirl. At the Jungle Dance, the warthogs waltz, the chimps cha-cha, and the lions tango. “Giraffes can’t dance,” they all jeer when it’s Gerald’s turn to prance. But there is one little creature who believes in Gerald. “Everything makes music,” the cricket explains, “if you really want it to.” So Gerald starts swaying to his own sweet tune.
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South Carolina First Steps polled children’s librarians across the state and named Giraffes Can’t Dance, by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees, its 2015 Children’s Book of the Year.
Kids learn valuable life lessons through stories. From respect and honesty to building confidence and navigating relationships, story is one of the most powerful mediums we have to teach children!
This beautifully written and illustrated book has won countless awards and it’s the perfect choice for this year’s 2nd Annual Day of Reading, an event that takes place today at childcare centers across our county.
Because we’re committed to promoting literacy, especially the importance of reading aloud to young children, this day is a great opportunity to model and encourage the fun and enrichment that reading aloud provides, both one-on-one with children and also in group settings.
To listen to this delightful book and view the illustrations, click here.
What are some of YOUR favorite read-alouds for the young child? You can chat with us in the comments or through our communities on Facebook and Twitter.
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By Marian Vischer, Communications Coordinator
