Finding My Dance
Hardcover – Picture Book, September 13, 2022
Penguin Young Readers Group · Hardcover · September 13, 2022
In her debut picture book, professional Indigenous dancer Ria Thundercloud tells the true story of her path to dance and how it helped her take pride in her Native American heritage.
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- Who it’s for
- A dancer’s true childhood story links movement with joy, heritage, and pride.
- Themes
- Indigenous dance, Pride in Native heritage, Finding belonging
- Genres
- Dance & Movement, Performers' Biographies for Kids, Native American Life (U.S.)
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Start with this bookAbout this book
In her debut picture book, professional Indigenous dancer Ria Thundercloud tells the true story of her path to dance and how it helped her take pride in her Native American heritage. At four years old, Ria Thundercloud was brought into the powwow circle, ready to dance in the special jingle dress her mother made for her. As she grew up, she danced with her brothers all over Indian country.
Continue reading
Then Ria learned more styles--tap, jazz, ballet--but still loved the expressiveness of Indigenous dance. And despite feeling different as one of the only Native American kids in her school, she always knew she could turn to dance to cheer herself up. Follow along as Ria shares her dance journey--from dreaming of her future to performing as a professional--accompanied by striking illustrations that depict it while bringing her graceful movements to life.
Dance and Belonging
A dancer’s true childhood story links movement with joy, heritage, and pride.
Come here for
- Indigenous dance alongside tap, jazz, and ballet
- A personal story of heritage and self-expression
Expect
- Illustrations that bring graceful dance movements to life
- A picture-book journey from childhood dancing to professional performance
Where it sits
| Native American Life (U.S.) | 68% |
|---|---|
| Performers' Biographies for Kids | 61% |
| Dance & Movement | 47% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Cultural Heritage Biographies for Kids
- Performers' Biographies for Kids
- Native American Life (U.S.)
- Authors
- Ria Thundercloud
- Publisher
- Penguin Young Readers Group
- Published
- September 13, 2022
- Format
- Hardcover
- Theme
- Indigenous dance · Pride in Native heritage · Finding belonging
- Reading lane
- Cultural Heritage Biographies for Kids