Parents' Guide to

Song and Dance Man

By Dawn Friedman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Grandpa relives good ol' days in award-winner.

Book Karen Ackerman Picture Book 1992
Song and Dance Man Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 4+

Based on 1 parent review

SheSpeeds
SheSpeeds Parent of 5-year-old
June 7, 2012
age 4+

Beautiful art, lovely story.

Fun to read, kids asked for it every night while we had it checked out from the library.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 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

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