Josephine wants to dance by Jackie French
Ill. by Bruce Whatley. Angus & Robertson, 2016. ISBN
9781460752524
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Dancing, Kangaroos, Achievement. A
tenth anniversary issue of this delightful story, a CBCA Notable
Book in 2007, is very welcome indeed. With Whatley's wonderful
illustrations, full of colour and movement, French's spare text
tells us all we need to know.
Josephine loves to dance, but everyone tells her that kangaroos do
not dance: they hop or they jump. But Josephine, undeterred, sneaks
into town where she finds a ballet company in rehearsal. She
watches, copying each of their moves, practicing all alone through
the night. Even curtseying at the end of her performance. Whatley's
illustrations of Josephine rehearsing her steps are wonderful, the
animal so well drawn kids will reach out their hands to touch her
coat.
When the impossible happens and the lead dancer sprains her ankle,
Josephine is the first to leap through the window and offer her
services. Dressed in her pink tutu with ballet slippers (Wow!) on
her feet she is ready for the evening performance. But even then her
friends, Joey and Wombat are still exhorting her to come back to
where she belongs.
She is a sensation, leaping across the stage with moves never seen
before, and she receives a bouquet of quite delicious roses as she
curtsies. So successful is she that the audience joins in, even Joey
and Wombat.
This is an encouraging story of being different, of striving to do
what you want to do, despite what others think. Josephine wants to
dance and try something out of the ordinary despite her friends
trying to keep her at home. She longs to dance and through her
perseverance achieves a milestone in her life. It is a wonderful
story of achievement to be shared with younger children, encouraging
discussion about trying your best, of living your dream, of being
different. Whatley's illustrations are priceless. I love Josephine
trying to be inconspicuous behind a tree, and the wombat with his
tutu, and the boab tree and the shocked face of the costume
designer. Kids and teacher swill love it all over again, and the
sparkly front cover will attract the readers before the teacher gets
the book ready for reading out loud.
Fran Knight