FRANKIE'S WISH

This 16th installment of Once Upon a Dance’s children’s book series presents a birthday story about the value of a journey.

A White child named Frankie who lives on Anorac Island is excited about a birthday tradition. Birthday kids on Anorac can travel to a nearby island to make a wish on a magical blue feather. Frankie intends to wish to become a famous dancer. After some advice from Auntie Duke to “use your mind, body, and imagination as you wander in the wonder”; ask for help when needed; and be open-minded, Frankie heads off. In the forest, Frankie meets a talking eagle, flowers that deliver a mysterious message, a riddle-telling Tyrannosaurus rex, and a gorilla swinging from vines, all of whom help the youngster along the path. When Frankie arrives at the goal, the child realizes that wishing to be a famous dancer would mean skipping out on the journey—and the odyssey through the forest was what made the day fun. As with previous books in the series, each two-page spread features a large illustration, prose that tells the story, and a section where White ballerina Konora (her stage name) leads young readers and dancers through retelling the tale with their bodies. Most of the movements in this story are accessible, with only one challenging pose (a bridge—to mimic the archway entrance to the magical forest), which Konora guides readers through in steps. Advanced dancers can add their own, more challenging spins to the recommended movements, but beginning performers and preschool listeners may choose to stick with the descriptions, using their imaginations to act out Frankie’s adventures. Though geared toward a younger audience, some complex vocabulary words (overwhelmed, frolicked) make this a better choice for classroom reading aloud and perusing by solid independent readers. Rumińska’s digital paintings depicting Frankie are brightly colored, as opposed to the high-contrast, uncredited photographs of Konora, who wears a black leotard and leggings and moves against a white background. Both the prose and the pictures deftly avoid identifying Frankie’s gender. No pronouns are used in the text, and Frankie’s bushy, short red hair; freckles; and shorts and T-shirt give no gender cues, reinforcing that dancing is for everyone.

A strong quest tale encouraging imagination, movement, and hard work.