Joey Finds His Jump!: A Dance-It-Out Creative Movement Story for Young Movers (Dance-It-Out! Adventures: Movement, Connection & Story Play · Ages 4–8)

Find jumping jubilance with Dance-It-Out’s charming series debut, ideal for kids ages 4-7.

Joey Kangaroo never learned how to jump, and he desperately wants to find the secret. Kids move alongside Joey and Juniper with Ballerina Konora as inspiration in this interactive story of determination and friendship.

"Highly recommended for anyone with young children and those young at heart too." —Reedsy

"An innovative use of dance and storytelling for a fun, child-focused activity." —Kirkus Reviews

Movement, technique, and dance concepts in this story include:

• Plié
• Relevé
• Forward Port de Bras
• Passé
• Leap/Grand Jeté
• Twist
• March
• Hop
• Skip
• Jump
• Kick
• Frog Jump
• Stretches (Up/Out/Child’s Pose/Yawn)
• Body Parts’ Isolation: Knees, Tongue, Arms, Back, and Head
• Small/Medium/Large Jumps
• Low/High Levels
• Wide/Narrow
• Quick/Slow
• Extended Legs/Arms
• Corps/Synchronized Dancing
• Emotions in the Body

Themes include Making New Friends, Being Polite, Friendship, and Empathy. The Dance-It-Out! books can be used as a supplement for classes or camps. Joey Finds His Jump! pairs well with themes such as Kangaroos, Frogs, Dancing, New Experiences, Meeting New People, Good Manners, Being Kind, Going to the Zoo, Emotions, Adventures, Ballet, or Jumping.

Featured characters include Joey (he/him) and Juniper (she/her). Background characters include dancers (femininely dressed), diverse children at the zoo, and nonbinary animals: giraffe, hippo, lion, and orangutan. Dance-It-Out!s are a bit above level (language-wise) as they are often initially enjoyed with a caregiver or teacher.

Dance-It-Out! movement journeys are ideal for dance, pre-ballet, creative movement, preschool, daycare, early learning, physical education, homeschool, kindergarten, or first-grade activities. The full collection features male, female, and nongendered diverse characters. Books make a great gift for boys or girls interested in dance, ballet, gymnastics, or yoga, or reluctant readers who enjoy getting up and moving.

With kind characters, subtle life lessons, and a positive role model in Ballerina Konora, teachers love the kid-approved, ready-made additions to curriculum and lesson planning. Children at home adore the stories that “young readers will return to again and again” (—Reedsy).

About the Author
Once Upon a Dance offers movement, breath, joy, connection, and imagination through stories.

The books are lovingly crafted by a mother-daughter pair. Ballerina Konora is living her dreams as a professional ballerina. Her mother, Teacher Terrel, taught creative movement and ballet for decades and was recognized by her local City Council for embodying the spirit of partnership and commitment to children in our community for her work with young dancers. Terrel has breathed dance from every angle and has worked in education and with various non-profits supporting kids and families.

Visit www.OnceUponADance.com for information about the books (25 titles spanning ages 3-12), charity partners, and awards, plus teacher resources and kids' bonus activities. Once Upon a Dance has received many honors, including:
Kirkus Reviews Starred Review, PenCraft Award First Place Winner, Mom’s Choice Gold Award Recipient, Family Choice Award, Firebird Book Award First Place, Royal Dragonfly Book Award First Place, Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Best Book Juvenile Fiction, Outstanding Creator Awards Winner Best Children's Book.