Do Donkeys Dance?

by Melanie Walsh

Do pigs buzz around flowers? Have you ever seen a ladybug stand on one tiny leg? Who might you find swimming underwater? Animals move and so do we! Can you hop like a flea -- or even fly? Each silly question appears on a double-page spread along with a bright illustration of the animal in a pose. When young readers turn the page, the surprising answer is revealed.

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Animals, Childrens, Juvenile

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Melanie Walsh (born 18 July 1964) is an English writer and illustrator of children's books. She studied at Harrow School of Art and the Royal College of Art.

Walsh has published 46 works in 98 publications. Her books have been translated into nine different languages.[1]

Reviews

[Amos Kitani]

Melanie Walsh poses deeply provocative questions throughout this book. In my 6 months of life, I have never pondered whether a ladybug can stand on one leg (spoiler alert: no). But through the use of parallel Matisse-style illustrations (the same background context is shown with both the incorrect and correct animals on consecutive pages), I could easily see that although turtles can't leap, kangaroos can.

The only weakness of this book is that the issue of dancing donkeys is never fully resolved (or even addressed) within the pages of the book. Perhaps it is Walsh's existential method of helping us experience the insolubility of life's questions.

[Jj]

WELL, DO THEY??? The book never answered its own title question, which I find a bit odd. That said, I do like this series of books, which also includes Do Monkeys Tweet? and Do Pigs Have Stripes?, for their usefulness in sparking discussion with little ones and the VERY toddler-friendly art and text.

[Janet]

Copyright 2000, the copy I read was definitely showing wear from many library circulations. But a fun very basic title for the youngest that ask and answers some basic questions. “Do hippos hop? Is one double page illustration turn the page and “No but fleas do.” And a current illustration trend in picture books is vertical double page spreads. Perhaps it isn’t so new as there are two in this title!

[Molly]

Asks such questions as "Do hippos hop?" and "Can ladybugs stand on one leg?" and then tells which animal makes each specific movement. It is a fun book for storytime. However, I do find it odd that the titular question is never asked in the book.

[Lacey]

Much like it's counterpart, great for PreK or Kinder. Very short, not the best illustrations.

[AJ Easterday]

Never in this book does it actually address the question in the title. Why is it called "Do Donkeys Dance" if you never talk about donkeys or dancing?

[Mary]

This is a book of things that some animals do that others do not do. Do Donkeys Dance? No, but girls and boys do! The book looks at lots of things that animals can do that we can do, too! When you're reading this book, you can encourage children to do the actions these animals do, like: stand on one foot, jump high, hang upside down from monkey bars, or swim. Great for interaction with young children.

[Diana]

This is book is a thought provoking book for a child. It ask questions such as "Do ladybugs stand on one leg?" and as you turn the next page it states "No, but flamingos can." It is a fun interactive way to learn about what some animals can do compared to what others can't do. It will engage all students with its fun illustrations. I would use this book in a classroom to talk about animals and compare what sounds and actions they do.

[Vivian]

If you're entertaining children in a library story time you can use this book as a WIGGLE BREAK activity. Everybody stand up! Now, do actions prompted by the text. "buzz around" -- roll arms. "leap" -- jump up!. "hang upside down" -- bend over. "hop" -- jump up and down on both feet or try one foot and then the other foot. "swim underwater" -- make swimming motions or hold nose while bending knees to a squatting position. "stand on one leg" -- yep (but for how long?).

[Terry]

One of the three books my son demanded this morning. This is actually one he'll sit to, and includes (on every other page) his favorite word-of-the-moment: "noooooo". You have to draw the word out in a "cute" or "obnoxious" voice, and he rather enjoys that. Or I rather enjoy it. I'm not sure which it actually is. Perhaps it doesn't matter.

[jacky]

This was read at story time today as party of the letter D showcase. We've head several of this type of book (even by this author) at story time. It shows animal doing something wrong (like a chicken swimming), then the correct answer on the next page. They are simple illustrations, but pretty funny.

[Becca]

Topics : animals, what animals do
Characters : animals (donkeys, fish, bees, birds...)
Classroom relevance : provides a repetetive, predictable storyline for young students to follow
Grade level(s) : kindergarten-1st

Asks patterned questions about what different animals do, "Do hippos hop? No, but fleas do. Do chickens swim underwater? No, fish swim underwater!"

[Destiny Dawn Long]

I'm not sure that my daughter appreciates how silly the illustrations are--but I'm sure she will in time. I like that this book follows a predictive pattern to help children develop their ability to answer questions and predict the correct answer.

[Jen H.]

Cute book for toddler, colorful illustrations. Great for predictions.

[Katie Fitzgerald]

Read at Baby/Toddler Story Time on 5/8/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

[Cara Byrne]

A sweet board book about animals and their activities - with a "flying child" surprise at the end. A baby storytime book.