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kayleeacton's review against another edition
5.0
Dancing Hands is about a young girl named Teresa who played the piano beautifully. She began at a young age and continued to grow in her talent. Sadly, Teresa and her family were forced to move to America during the time of war in her country. In America, she knew no one and felt very alone. Soon enough, she found kind people as she played music and brought joy to everyone who heard her. It was also the time of the Civil War in America, so there was much sadness. Teresa received the opportunity to play for someone so important she could not believe it, President Abraham Lincoln. The president had just lost one of his sons, so Teresa knew that this night would be important. Even with an out-of-tune piano, Teresa was able to bring joy to the family, even for just one night. This might be one of my favorite books I have read so far. I would love to have this in my library and read aloud to my future students.
juniper_reads_things's review against another edition
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
I love microhistories like this!!
bickie's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful illustrations matching the experience of Teresa and the locations where she finds herself, paired with poetic text.
Back matter includes a several-paragraph "historical note" with additional information; no timeline or photographs.
Back matter includes a several-paragraph "historical note" with additional information; no timeline or photographs.
ec_dee13's review against another edition
5.0
This book, found on the 2020 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People list published by the National Council for the Social Studies, details the life of Teresa Carreño, a Venezuelan pianist. After learning to play piano and compose her own songs, Teresa’s family fled Venezuela to the US during the US Civil War. This charming biography would be best suited for 2nd/3rd grade and up, because it is very approachable in language. I think it is absolutely amazing to tell a story about an underrepresented group, and that many students would be able to make some connections to her story.
I watched this in a video book format on Hoopla, which enhanced the experience by accompanying the story with piano music. The moving visuals also really brought the story to life.
I watched this in a video book format on Hoopla, which enhanced the experience by accompanying the story with piano music. The moving visuals also really brought the story to life.
pipn_t's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
5.0
The art is beautiful, and it was a sweet little story.
annalisenak97's review against another edition
5.0
Aaaaahhhhh a fellow pianist! La Leona del Piano! This was great, a story of a talented little girl, of immigration, and of hope. The illustrations in here were great, lots of excellent symbolism about what Teresa was feeling. She is always surrounded by color (representing music), and I thought that was really powerful. I talk a lot about the illustrations in these books, but the text in this one was beautiful too-- so well written and flowing like poetry.
carissaplake's review against another edition
5.0
This book follows the story of a little girl faces adversity and becomes a beautiful piano player. She ends up playing for President Lincoln in the white house at a very young age. I think I would use this around President's Day or Lincoln's birthday as a diverse literature pick to help enrich the children's knowledge of the president.