The Tony Awards are right around the corner, and I can't wait to see who will take home the top honors! If you're in the mood for theater like me, here are eight books to read this weekend!
Picture Books
When I Grow Up by Tim Minchin, illustrated by Steve Antony
When I grow up,
I will be tall enough
to reach the branches
that I need to reach
to climb the trees
you get to climb when you're grown up.
A group of children imagines all of the things that they will be able to do once they grow up, and they plan to do anything and everything. They hope to solve problems, play in the sun all day long, be brave, and even eat ice cream all day. The combination of Tim Minchin's Tony Award-winning Matilda the Musical lyrics and Steve Antony's joyful artwork is sure to inspire readers of all ages to explore the endless possibilities that the future could have in store.
Zoogie Boogie Fever by Sujean Rim
A wild and wonderful cast of zoo animals boogie and zoogie the night away in this zany dance party celebration from watercolorist Sujean Rim!
What do the animals at the zoo do when the gates close at night? They boogie until dawn! This bouncy, funny read-aloud is filled with an assortment of animals dancing to their own beat and celebrating their individuality. See the flamingos do the fandango, the elephants cha-cha-cha, and the little penguins break-dance as they all avoid being discovered by the zookeeper, and then turn the page to see everyone come together in one unforgettable conga line! Kids will be dancing and moving as they read along with Sujean Rim's irresistible cast of animal characters that fills every page. It all culminates in a surprise orientation shift that reveals an unforgettable finale!
Peppa Pig: The School Play by Meredith Rusu
Peppa Pig's class is putting on a school play! Peppa stars as Little Red Riding Hood and Danny Dog is the Big Bad Wolf. Pedro Pony is the hunter — but he's very shy. Will all of the children remember their lines and make the play a big success? Find out in this Level 1 reader with stickers!
Middle Grade
Drama by Raina Telgemeier (also available in Spanish)
Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle school's production of Moon over Mississippi, she can't really sing. Instead she's the set designer for the drama department's stage crew, and this year she's determined to create a set worthy of Broadway on a middle-school budget. But how can she, when she doesn't know much about carpentry, ticket sales are down, and the crew members are having trouble working together? Not to mention the onstage AND offstage drama that occurs once the actors are chosen. And when two cute brothers enter the picture, things get even crazier!
Unicorn in New York #2: Louie Takes the Stage by Rachel Hamilton
Louie the Unicorn is a star! At least, he will be once he polishes his act at performing arts school. With a song in his heart, a spring in his step, and an unwaveringly sunny outlook, he's about to take the big city by storm. It's time for this unicorn to shine!
Louie and his class are putting on their first big show! But everything is going wrong. Louie's audition tricks don't amuse anyone. His best friend gets cast in the wrong part. Louie even sets the stage on fire! But the show must go on. Can Louie save the day?
Young Adult
Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg
Emme, Sophie, Ethan, and Carter are seniors at a performing arts school, getting ready for their Senior Showcase recital, where the pressure is on to appeal to colleges, dance academies, and professionals in show business. For Sophie, a singer, it's been great to be friends with Emme, who composes songs for her, and to date Carter, soap opera heartthrob who gets plenty of press coverage. Emme and Ethan have been in a band together through all four years of school, but wonder if they could be more than just friends and bandmates. Carter has been acting since he was a baby, and isn't sure how to admit that he'd rather paint than perform. The Senior Showcase is going to make or break each of the four, in a funny, touching, spectacular finale that only Elizabeth Eulberg could perform.
The Nightingales are in a serious funk. Bradley Academy's all-girl a cappella group used to be the pride of the sunshine state, but the Nightingales have recently fallen out of harmony.Best friends and co-captains Lidia Sato and Sydney Marino haven't been speaking ever since a boy came between them. And not just any boy-none other than Griffin Mancini, the lead singer of Bradley Academy's smug all-boy a capella group, the Kingfishers.The Nightingales have no chance of making it to the big state final if their captains are at each other's throats. Their only hope is new girl Julianna Ramirez. But in addition to her serious pipes, she has some serious stage fright.The Nightingales will have to come together if they want to shine at the upcoming competition and restore the group to its former glory.Turn It Up! follows Lidia, Sydney, and Julianna through the ups and downs of friendship, romance, competition, and finding the perfect song!
