Review by Booklist Review
Debbie Allen, one of the most accomplished and respected performers in the world, was once a little girl who just wanted to dance. This glowingly illustrated book showcases Allen's childhood before the TV, movie, and theater worlds knew her name. After facing racial discrimination in 1950s-era Texas, Allen and her family moved to Mexico, where her dancing thrived. Upon returning to Houston, Allen enrolled in a school that had previously denied her entry, thus beginning a lifelong journey of paving the way for dancers of color. Seeing an icon as a little girl, taking classes, and dreaming big will hopefully show readers that even in the face of adversity, working hard for your dreams is always worthwhile. The semi-rhyming verse text floats across the page in a large font, allowing the eye to dance just as Allen does throughout. The soft, painterly images are brightly colored, giving a joyful feel. Back matter includes a biography and a timeline showing Debbie's journey in conjunction with the civil rights movement. An excellent choice for biography and performing arts collections.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A picture-book salute to pioneering dancer Debbie Allen. "In the heart / of the Third Ward / of Houston, Texas, / beneath a star-covered sky… / the wind stirs its nighttime song / as Debbie begins." Young Debbie starts to dance. But it's the 1950s, and Black people face barriers: "White signs / painted with black words / with a message loud and clear: / people like Debbie / are simply not welcome here." "Here" includes the local dance school. Debbie's mother can't abide the thought of her daughter's wasted potential and dashed dreams, so "with the wind at their backs, / they cross the border, / feet planted on new soil." Charles' poetic approach to biographizing Allen's childhood is lovely, though at times it relegates details to the backmatter: The "new soil" where Debbie and her mother relocate isn't identified in the main narrative, for instance, though the author's note clarifies that it's Mexico City. Nor does the main text clue in readers about Allen's considerable adult accomplishments; readers learn only that Debbie returns to Houston after "some years," continues to dance, and ultimately enjoys a successful stage career: "Beneath the white-bright lights, / the music sings / as history unfolds." Still, the verse sparkles, and the book's reach-for-the-sky imperative is reinforced by Lucius' sleek and glossy digital art, in which dancing Debbie is frequently flanked by twinkly stars. Uplifting and glowing. (further resources, timeline)(Picture-book biography. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
