This first introduction for children to renowned dancer and
choreographer Jose Lim-n pairs equally soaring text and visuals.
Born "kicking like a roped steer," young Lim-n moved with his
family from Mexico to California during the Mexican Revolution,
made his way to New York during the '20s, and after searching for
an artistic vocation, found his life's work in the modern art dance
of Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman, creating "dances sweet as
birdsong-TRILLIA-WEET! / Hot as the desert sun - S'! S'! / Sad as
broken dreams-O, so-ador." Focusing mainly on Lim-n's childhood,
Col-n takes him from cradle to curtain call in a series of
portraits that captures his strength and grace perfectly. Reich's
narrative neatly draws together both his search for a medium of
artistic expression that was right for him (he was talented in
music and visual arts, too), and the influence of early incidents,
sights and even sounds on his mature style. She closes with a
triple "BRAVO!" that readers will certainly echo, plus an extended
biographical note and a select list of resources in several media.
An inspiring tribute to a major figure in the arts, featuring some
of Col-n's most moving, powerful work yet. (Picture book/biography.
7-9) (Kirkus Reviews)
Jose! Born to Dance tells the story of a boy born in a small
Mexican village who became one of the greatest dancers of all
time--Jose Limon. Jose was a boy with a song in his heart and a
dance in his step. Born in Mexico in 1908, he came into the world
kicking like a steer, and grew up to love to draw, play the piano,
and dream. Jose's dreaming took him to faraway places. He dreamed
of bullfighters and the sounds of the cancan dancers that he saw
with his father. Dance lit a fire in Jose's soul. With his heart to
guide him, Jose left his family and went to New York to dance. He
learned to flow and float and fly through space with steps like a
Mexican breeze. When Jose danced, his spirit soared. From New York
to lands afar, Jose Limon became known as the man who gave the
world his own kind of dance. Susanna Reich's lyrical text and Raul
Colon's shimmering artwork tell the story of a boy who was
determined to make a difference in the world, and did. Jose! Born
to Dance will inspire picture book readers to follow their hearts
and live their dreams.
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