The Thumbtack Dancer

The Thumbtack Dancer

by Leslie Tryon

The Thumbtack Dancer begins – “Just like yesterday and the day before, Gus KICKED out of bed, LACED-UP his thumbtack sneakers and did his teeth- brushing dance.

Next he did his bed-making dance, and then his getting-dressed dance.

His mama knew Gus was up because she could hear, the tip-a-tap, rap-a-slap, flap-a-dap thumbtack rhythms through the kitchen ceiling.”

Gus has a dance for everything! Gus is a most promising, most energetic and most talented young dancer who figures out how to make enough money to upgrade his tip-a-tap thumbtack sneakers to a new pair of real tap shoes.

Along the way, he uses his public street dancing with his thumbtack shoes to bring the change he needs and goes – Slap- a-dee-dap, slap-a-dee-dap – down the sidewalk, and right up to the big red door of the dance studio.

Be inspired by Gus, his energy and drive and inventiveness as this creative young man figures out the next steps he needs to take.


Ages: 4-6
Illustrated by: Jan Spivey Gilchrist
ISBN: 9780997772005
Price: $17.95
Published by: Alazar Press

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