Song and Dance Man

Written by Karen Ackerman · Illustrated by Stephen Gammell

A young boy visits his grandfather and learns about his past as a vaudeville performer

4.5/7 Bookroo experts·4.0/5 Goodreads · 9,258 ratings

32 pages· 892 words· Est. 7 min read-aloud· 580L

$15.95Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Three children discover their grandfather's vibrant past as a vaudeville performer when he dons his bowler hat and tap shoes. As Grandpa dances, the attic transforms into a stage, and the children witness the magic of his youth. This nostalgic journey shows that age is just a number, and the joy of dance is timeless. What secrets of the past will Grandpa's performance reveal, and how will it change the way the children see him? Dive into a world where memories come alive with every step and twirl.

From the publisher

Illus. in full color. “In this affectionate story, three children follow their grandfather up to the attic, where he pulls out his old bowler hat, gold-tipped cane, and his tap shoes. Grandpa once danced on the vaudeville stage, and as he glides across the floor, the children can see what it was like to be a song and dance man. Gammell captures all the story’s inherent joie de vivre with color pencil renderings that leap off the pages. Bespectacled, enthusiastic Grandpa clearly exudes the message that you’re only as old as you feel, but the children respond—as will readers—to the nostalgia of the moment. Utterly original.”—(starred) Booklist.