{"id":37179,"date":"2020-04-09T17:19:46","date_gmt":"2020-04-09T21:19:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=37179"},"modified":"2020-04-09T17:19:46","modified_gmt":"2020-04-09T21:19:46","slug":"review-of-dancing-hands-by-margarita-engle-and-rafael-lopez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=37179","title":{"rendered":"Review of Dancing Hands, by Margarita Engle and Rafael L\u00f3pez"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Dancing Hands<\/p>\n

How Teresa Carre\u00f1o Played the Piano for President Lincoln<\/em><\/p>\n

by Margarita Engle
\nillustrated by Rafael L\u00f3pez<\/p>\n

Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2019. 36 pages.
\nStarred Review
\n2020 Pura Belpr\u00e9 Illustrator Award Winner<\/a>
\nReview written February 10, 2020, from a library book<\/p>\n

Dancing Hands<\/em> tells the story of Teresa Carre\u00f1o, who was born in Venezuela in 1853. She learned to play the piano when she was very young. <\/p>\n

I love that this book won the Pura Belpr\u00e9 Illustrator Award, because the artist does a wonderful job of using the art to convey the joyful music Teresa played with bright, colorful, and playful images. The author does a good job of using poetic language that was a perfect vehicle for the art. Here\u2019s what\u2019s written on two spreads about Teresa learning to play the piano:<\/p>\n

At first, making music seemed magical,
\nbut Teresa soon learned that playing a piano
\ncould be hard work. Sometimes she had to struggle
\nto make the stubborn music behave
\nas she practiced gentle songs
\nthat sounded like colorful birds
\nsinging in the dark and light branches
\nof a shade-dappled mango tree . . .
\nand powerful songs that roared
\nlike prowling jaguars, beside towering waterfalls
\nin a mysterious green jungle.<\/p>\n

If Teresa felt sad, music cheered her,
\nand when she was happy, the piano helped her
\nshare bursts of joy. By the time she was six,
\nshe could write her own songs, and at seven
\nshe performed in the peaceful chapel
\nof a magnificent cathedral, playing hymns
\nthat shimmered like hummingbirds.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When she was eight years old, her family was forced to flee Venezuela because of war, and they came as refugees to New York City. Teresa began to perform in her new country and became famous as the Piano Girl.<\/p>\n

But the United States was at war, too. Teresa traveled many places to perform, but this book features the invitation she received to play for President Abraham Lincoln at the White House when she was ten years old. <\/p>\n

The president\u2019s son had recently died, so the book focuses on how her joyful playing \u2013 and dancing hands \u2013 brought comfort to the grieving family.<\/p>\n

A note at the back adds details to put it all in context, but this exceptionally beautiful book tells the true story of a young girl who used music to bring joy to others.<\/p>\n

rafaellopez.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Nonfiction\/dancing_hands.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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