Parents' Guide to Song and Dance Man

Song and Dance Man Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

By Dawn Friedman , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 4+

Grandpa relives good ol' days in award-winner.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 4+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 4+

Based on 1 parent review

What's the Story?

On a lazy afternoon, Grandpa takes the kids to the attic to regale them with tales of the olden days when he performed on the vaudeville stage.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 1 ):
Kids say : Not yet rated

It's hard not to be nostalgic about the good old days when reading SONG AND DANCE MAN, whether you were lucky enough to be around then or not. While most kids who read the book are unlikely to have a grandparent old enough to have performed in vaudeville, the sense of nostalgia that permeates the book will be familiar to anyone who has spent quality time listening to their grandparents' stories.

This is a great read-aloud, but it's Stephen Gammell's wonderful pencil drawings that make it a classic. His soft and inviting style is perfect for the lumpy, comfy grandpa and the tousled, happy kids. Rainbow colors glow behind the family, giving the book the warmth and coziness of a worn, handmade quilt.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what sorts of memories their own kids' grandparents have. Do any of them have hidden talents? Do they have favorite things packed away? Kids may want to write their own book starring their grandparents.

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

Song and Dance Man Poster Image

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate