Giraffe's+Can't+Dance



**Bibliographic Data:** Reading level: Ages 4 and up Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Orchard (September 1, 2001) Language: English ISBN-10: 0439287197 ISBN-13: 978-0439287197

**Author Biography:** Giles Andreae is a British author of many bestselling children’s books. He was born in London on March 16th 1966. He has four children from whom he claims to get his inspiration for his creative stories. His first children’s book, “Rumble in the Jungle” was an instant hit and has been followed by several sequels, including “Commotion in the Ocean” and “Dinosaurs Galore.” Andreae has sold more than 2 million copies of his children’s books, making him one of the most successful children’s authors working today. In an interview, Andreae says that in order to be a successful author, one should read a lot, write a lot, and write from the heart.

**Summary:** “Giraffes Can’t Dance” is a fictional story about a giraffe in Africa named Gerald, and at the annual Jungle Dance he is made fun by all the other animals because of his horrible dance moves. Gerald feels alienated and alone because he cannot dance as well as the other animals. Gerald is upset and leaves the dance, when he comes across a wise cricket who offers him some advice, “sometimes when you’re different, you just need a different song” (15). Gerald listened to the swaying grass and the trees, and the cricket played his violin. Gerald was feeling the music and suddenly he began to dance so gracefully and all of the other animals were silent in complete awe, then cheered loudly and wanted to know Gerald's dancing secrets.

**Review:** I chose this book because I have a strange affinity for giraffes, and I truly value the message this book sends to young children. Children (and even adults) try so hard to blend in and fit in with social norms, but sometimes it’s best to find your own way of doing things that make you happy. On the very last page, Gerald exclaims that “we all can dance when we find the music that we love” (26) and relays the message that everyone is special in their own way; we all have unique talents, but sometimes we need encouragement from friends or family to find our own way in life. There is also a theme of friendship present throughout the story. The other jungle animals laugh at Gerald when he tries to dance with them in the beginning, but only at the end of the story do they want to be his friend because he is such a great dancer. Comparing those fair weather friends to the cricket, who encourages Gerald when he is feeling down, children will learn the importance of being a friend to others in good times and the bad.

 **Analysis of Literary Element (Theme):** I would use this book in a first grade classroom to discuss the elements of theme in the story. The two major themes present in “Giraffes Can’t Dance” are friendship and embracing your own uniqueness in terms of strengths and weaknesses. In the story, Gerald was nervous to go to the Jungle Dance, because he knew he was not a good dancer in comparison to the other animals. When the lions saw him, they roared “Hey, look at clumsy Gerald…Giraffes can’t dance, you silly fool! Oh Gerald, you’re so weird,” (11). This remark made Gerald feel even worse about himself, and he sulked off while the other animals danced the night away. A friendly cricket saw what happened and consoled Gerald by telling him that “sometimes when you’re different you just need a different song” (15). He played the violin to encourage Gerald to dance. At the end of the story, all of the jungle animals were astonished to see that Gerald was “the best dancer that we’ve ever, ever seen!” (22). The animals who scoffed at Gerald in the beginning now want to be his friend and dance with him only because he is great. The cricket is a better friend than the others because he comforted Gerald when he was down and did not make fun of him like the others did. After reading the story as a whole class, I would have my students discuss the possible themes in this book and the important messages the book. I would have the students support their claims with textual evidence from the story. I would also discuss the importance of theme in relation to the students’ lives; it is important to children to be kind to others whether they are good or bad at something, and to always be a friend to someone who needs it. It is also important for students to know that they should always feel free to be themselves, and they do not need to conform to the masses and what everyone else is doing. I would have a discussion in circle group about what students think they are good at and what they are bad at. They will see that they are all unique and skilled at different things; one child’s weakness could be another’s strong suit. Young children love to talk about themselves, especially what they are good at. Children will love reading this book and comparing their strengths and weaknesses with Gerald and other students.

 **Related Links:** http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVzblgpqQnk


 * Unit Plan (Themes: Friendship & Being Yourself)**