Prancing, Dancing Lily

by Marsha Diane Arnold, John Manders (Illustrator)

The cows in Lily's herd are always dignified as they walk from the barn to the pasture.  But Lily would much rather prance and dance!  One day Lily decides to leave the farm and venture out on her own. All over the world-from New York City to Spain to Senegal-Lily learns new dances and makes wonderful friends.  But none of the dances are quite right for a cow, and soon Lily starts to miss home.  Will she ever find a place where she fits in? Spirited, funny, and utterly uplifting, Prancing, Dancing Lily is sure to delight anyone who has ever felt different from the herd.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 30, 2004

About the author

Called a “born storyteller” by the media, Marsha Diane Arnold is a picture book author of 21 books, with over one million books sold. Her books have garnered honors from Best First Book to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Smithsonian Notable and won state book awards. Her more recent books include Houghton Mifflin’s WAITING FOR SNOW, illustrated by Renata Liwska, and Roaring Brook Press’ LOST. FOUND., a Junior Library Guild selection which received three starred reviews and was illustrated by Caldecott winner Matthew Cordell. MAY I COME IN?, a book about inclusion and kindness, has just been released from Sleeping Bear Press and four new books are coming, including a bilingual book from Lee & Low, GALÁPAGOS GIRL.

Marsha enjoys sharing her love of story through school visits, manuscript consultations, her Writing Wonderful Character-Driven Picture Books e-course, and especially by reading to her three grandchildren.

Growing up on the Kansas prairies, Marsha lived in Northern California for most of her life. Now she lives with her husband in southwest Florida, near the Caloosahatchee River and her daughter’s family, only a short flight from her son’s family in NYC. Besides creating stories, her favorite activities are scuba diving and snorkeling, hiking, traveling, gardening, and climbing trees.

You may learn more about Marsha, her books, and her world, at www.marshadianearnold.com.

Reviews

[Celia Buell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recognized this one from my childhood when I've seen it in the education curriculum library, and I think I must have read it multiple times, because I remembered it once I'd read it, but it wasn't one that sticks out as a favorite. Revisiting it with a student, though, I enjoyed it a lot.

Lily is a cow who can't walk neatly in line with the other bell cows. Instead, she wants to dance. The other bell cows make fun of her and do not think she can ever be a farm cow. So, with a letter in rhyme to her family, Lily decides to leave the farm in search of a world of dance.

You definitely have to be young enough to suspend all disbelief to appreciate this story. Lily is the only animal among all humans at the locations she dances at. While this is funny, many students would be quick to point out how unrealistic it is, especially since there are no other animals involved in the story, aside from Lily's herd on the farm.

Luckily, this book does a lot to scaffold young readers. While the regular text is written as prose, the letters Lily sends home are all rhyming quatrains. Students will notice how these two texts types are different, and the rhymes are often grade-level sight words, making this story perfect for readers who are learning to decode. It is a great option for partner reading between a more skilled reader and an early reader because of these structures.

As for the story, it says a lot about finding our place in a world that doesn't know how to accept us for who we are. Students can trace Lily's journey and see how she discovers what fits her. I know every person has had a feeling that they don't fit in, so this book is perfect to show students that there is always a place for them.

I definitely want to get this one for my future classroom.

*Read for: EDUC 175 - tutoring a first grade student

[Celia Buell (semi hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does a lot to scaffold young readers. While the regular text is written as prose, the letters Lily sends home are all rhyming quatrains. Students will notice how these two texts types are different, and the rhymes are often grade-level sight words, making this story perfect for readers who are learning to decode. It is a great option for partner reading between a more skilled reader and an early reader because of these structures.

As for the story, it says a lot about finding our place in a world that doesn't know how to accept us for who we are. Students can trace Lily's journey and see how she discovers what fits her. I know every person has had a feeling that they don't fit in, so this book is perfect to show students that there is always a place for them.

I definitely want to get this one for my future classroom.

Read my full review on my Goodreads account for children's books

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prancing Dancing Lily is a cow in search of her place in the world, feeling out of step with her friends. She tours the world, learns new dances, and brings them home to her herd. Fun, silly, colorful and with a subtext of learning to find your talent, your place, your "thing" that makes you you and how you can apply that to your life. I like how she writes home using different technology--a note on a tree, an email, a letter, a postcard. Even a FAX! I'd read it to a group or a young child. Probably Pre-k, K to 3rd grade at the most. Just try explaining a FAX to today's kids!

[Aolund · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has great early literacy content (a repetitive story full of great rhymes and vocabulary) but unfortunately depicts almost solely white characters. When Lily, the clumsy but enthusiastic bovine protagonist, travels outside of the US she does meet people of color, but the all-white US scenes felt insensitive.

[Ham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this up because of the great art.
Didn't finish it because of the tedious, bloated text.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of fun!!

[Stephanie H (My Bookish Itinerary) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Prancing, Dancing Lily is a pretty cute story. Both of the girls enjoyed it. I love that Lily got to travel and try out several types of dance. I love it because it allows kids to have a glimpse at different dance styles from over the world. I also loved the message of "Never Give Up" that this story gives. Just keep trying and you will find what is right for you. I think this is a fun and entertaining story. The illustrations are great! I think it is a great story to read with young children.

This review, as well as, Cutie Pie and Cutie Pie #2's thoughts can be found on my blog: My Bookish Itinerary

[Amy Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love the strength of the Lily character in this book. She recognizes that she is different from the herd, and isn’t afraid to explore those differences. The lovely Marsha Diane Arnold handles an important message in a witty, fun, and sometimes silly way. Lily goes off on her adventure and in the process recognizes that what was identified in the herd as weakness really could be a strength. She refines that unique “something” about herself and brings it back home in a way that benefits everyone. Okay, and a cow that belly-dances? How could you not love that?

[Kena Kump · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent story! A poignant theme about a cow who wants to be a dancer so she travels around the world to find her place, and never quite fits in (how I feel here at BYU). Then she joins a congo line where they "dance in formation" and she comes home and shows her family and friends, and helps others, not just herself. She finds herself in helping others. One of my favorites thus far.

[Juliana Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily can't stay in line. She wanders and shashays around the farm. How will she ever be the lead cow? So Lily decides to travel and learn to dance. She's not very good at square dancing, tap dancing, the chorus line, the flamingo, or the belly dance. Just when she's ready to give up, Lily finds the perfect dance for her style... conga! Now Lily is ready to lead the herd in a conga line.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

We got this book during one of our regular trips to the library. It is a fun story with great pictures. My daughter loves it and even acts out the story with her toys. We love this book so much that I bought it so we have it after we return the library copy.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about a dancing, prancing cow who travels around trying to find out who she really is and it changes her life. My 4 year old and 7 year old liked it.

[CFAITC]

This whimsical picture book stars an Ayrshire dairy cow who will soon inherit the position of "Bell Cow," the leader of the herd.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lily dances to the beat of a different drummer in this fun book with bright, appealing illustrations. Her letters home will thrill listeners.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super-fun and delightful picture book. The illustrations were Grade A perfection.