I Can Make a Water Dance by Karen Diaz Ensanian

My goal was to create a book that helps children make connections with the natural world. By having them observe images of water and translate them into their own bodies they begin to make dance. Young dancers will explore their dance movements guided by vocabulary and poetry. They will therefore develop a greater understanding of water, their own bodies, and internalize a deep love of the world they live in. The journey of the book follows the path of the water cycle from evaporation, condensation, precipitation and collection. There are diverse dancer images are set into 14 lyrical paintings. These images are paired with vivid poetry and a question that sets the readers on the path to creating their own water dances. At the end of the book there are images of the children dancing with each photo labeled with a movement word used in the body of the book and a parent and teacher guide for creating a dance activity. The book will be an excellent tool for any Pre-K through fifth grade.