Review Detail

Doggy Dance-Off

Kids Fiction 414

Everybody, get on the floor, LET'S DANCE!

September 04, 2023 (Updated: September 17, 2023)

Overall rating

4.5

Plot

4.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

The Doggy Dance off is really hopping, with Patch (and his fleas), Suki, Dynamite Doug, and Duke Doggy Doo. They are boogieing, break dancing, and tearing up the dance floor. When one pup spills his orange juice, one exuberant dancer in a black suit with a purple sequined mask and a fedora doesn't stop, but continues to get down and get funky... until she slips on the juice. Who is this masked, mad dancer? There's a big twist that I don't want to spoil, but it will illicit a lot of laughs from young readers. (The title of this review owes thanks to K.C. and the Sunshine Band.)

Good Points

If the musical genre of my youth is showing up in picture books, you know I'm getting old, because this is clearly meant to appeal to grandparents who did a turn or two at a disco back in the day. The sparkle and energy of Saturday Night Fever is evident on every page, and the styles the dogs are wearing evoke various musical artists.

This is reminiscent of Boynton's fabulous Barnyard Dance, and the use of dactyllic lines definitely echoes the hand clapping and foot stomping vibe of that book. The refrain of "Down at the big Doggy Dance-Off" will be repeated again and again. There are a few times that the meter of the lines is off (and I may correct the text in my copy for ease of future readings), but I am very picky about poetry, and most of the lines flow off the tongue like a silk disco dress.

This would be a great title to have if you wanted to have a dog and dance themed story hour; just add a disco ball, some glitter shades, and Bender's Ballewiena and Litwin's Groovy Joe: Dance Party Countdown. Get ready to ease on down the road!