Amelia Bedelia Dances Off

Herman Parish's Amelia Bedelia Dances Off is a funny story for 6 year olds about a girl who wanted drums for her birthday and got dance lessons instead.

What happens

It starts with Amelia Bedelia sneaking into her dad's favourite recliner to watch a TV show about festivals round the world. Then Aunt Wanda turns up outside in tap shoes. Within minutes Amelia Bedelia and her mum are in the street outside a department store, tapping along with hundreds of strangers to set a state record.

That's part one of an early birthday present. Part two is an envelope. Inside are ten lessons at Dana's School of Dance. Amelia Bedelia is quite sure it'll be all ballet (and she REALLY doesn't want to be a ballerina).

It isn't all ballet. Almost every week there's someone new. There are flamenco dancers with nails in their shoes, a very strict Russian ballet teacher, break dancers in basketball shirts and a retired couple who used to run a ballroom school. There's hula, and there's a Scottish sword dance too.

And because it's Amelia Bedelia, every other instruction gets taken literally. "Glue your eyes to me" is a worrying thing for a teacher to say. So is "let's all go to the barre". And what kind of bun is a ballet bun anyway? Sourdough?

Her new classmates are great fun. Brad clutches his skateboard and thinks flamenco has something to do with flamingos. Gracie knows every French ballet word. The twins don't look anything like each other.

Then Dana slips on her wet back steps and breaks her leg. Aunt Wanda takes over, and the class decide to put on a show for her. "Do It for Dana" becomes their motto.

It's a lovely read for young children who like a joke they can get. The wordplay is the kind a six-year-old can spot and feel very clever about. It's warm about family too, with a dad who grumbles and an aunt who talks even faster than she drives.

It's an American book, so there's a "strip mall" and a "recital", but young readers will pick those up easily.

What to read next

If your reader loves a mix-up and a lively family, they'll probably want more. Amelia Bedelia Sets Sail takes her to the seaside with the aunt and cousin she adores, and a traffic jam on a very long bridge.