The Tip-tap Dancing Cat

by Joanna Boyle

Have you ever wondered what your cat gets up to when you're not around?

Oscar is a cat with a secret: he loves to dance! And as it happens, he's pretty good at it too. He can foxtrot and two-step, tap dance and salsa – and has even been known to FREESTYLE!

This energetic picture book for children aged 3-5 is perfect for anyone who loves to dance!

32 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 2014

Reviews

[Ceri · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a cute book about a cat who dances when his owners are at work. The pictures are really attractive, and there is a short bit about the history of each dance, such as what country it is from, which means for some of the dances you can look up the country on a map etc.

However, it's a hard book to bring to life for a child, because there is very little story to engage them, and although some of pictures depict the steps of the dances it is hard to visualise them. I think if you knew how to do a polka, samba, and so on, the child you were reading it to would enjoy it much more. I also think this book would work well as a sound book, with snippets of each style of song.

Disclaimer - I received this book as a Goodreads first read

[Caroline Skelly heywood · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book on my own to begin with and was not sure at all. So I took it into the nursery where I teach drama to 3-5 year olds. The children had mixed feelings about it. I think that was connected to not knowing what the dance styles were that Oscar the cat dances. I normally read the book and then we act the story, but with this book myself and my colleagues felt the book would benefit from having a CD with excerpts of the different styles of music to go with the cats dances. The children enjoyed standing up to dance but if they had the correct music their bodies could react to the style.
Thank you for allowing me to review this book. I hope my comments have been helpful.

[Jonathan Sutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming picture book for children. The illustrations have wonderful colour and movement and the story bounces along with plenty of refrains for little ones to chant along to. Sure to become a bookshelf favourite! The descriptions of the dances in the back is a nice touch too.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely produced children's book.

[Alex Jab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book full of life and charm. I bought a copy as soon as I spotted it on the shelf, a mark above the other books on either side, and it's growing on me more and more

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frothy fun for introducing different styles of dancing to little ones. Illustrations are drawn with a lovely looseness.