Reviews

Kai doesn't seem to have much dancing skill, which makes him feel a little left out of his rhythmic family. With an upcoming wedding on the horizon, Kai feels compelled to up his dance game, and solicits help from each of his family members. His hard work pays off, and come the day of the wedding, Kai is grooving with the rest of the family. I love Kai's determination. He never gives up, and his family tries to help him both by offering their own best dance tips and moves, but also by encouraging him to find his own. And then major kudos to his new Uncle Troy who also admits to being a little shy on the dance floor and who lets Kai lead the way.

Adorable.

Note: author grew up in Michigan and lives there currently.

libraryjen's review against another edition

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4.0

A fun story (if a little long) about Kai, who feels like everyone in his family except him has got serious dance moves. Through the power of asking for help and practicing, Kai gets better and learns a lesson about self-esteem in the process. A good group read aloud or one-on-one read. The illustrations are awesome, too, and really add ambiance to the story.

id_rather_be_reading_'s review against another edition

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5.0

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book. I even got a little teary eyed reading it. There is something so endearing about a character who is struggling to find their place (and eventually gets there) . This was a super sweet family story about coming into your own and finding your groove. The illustrations were fantastic. This is a really neat story.

inkpressedpage's review against another edition

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5.0

My family loved this so much!

forlightandpages's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

mldavisreads's review against another edition

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inspiring lighthearted

4.0

Children's picture book. Kai lives with his family and siblings, and he is the only one in the family that has yet to earn a dance-related nickname from Granddad. When the family gets invited to Auntie Nina's wedding, Kai sees his chance. He barters with his siblings to learn some dance moves and watch dance videos. Will Kai be able to put it all together at the wedding reception?

This a cute slice-of-life story that features a loving Black family, with even the extended family appearing due to the wedding setting. I like how the siblings work to build Kai's confidence without making fun of him. Seeing the groom equally nervous about earning a dance nickname made for a good way to relieve the tension Kai felt. A little text heavy for the preschool crowd, this is a better fit for younger elementary.

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