Giraffes Can't Dance product reviews

This is the story of Gerald the giraffe who is very good at standing still and munching leaves off trees, but each time when he tried to run around or dance he tends to get buckled at the knees." Every year in the jungle where Gerald lives the animals have a jungle dance where,

"The warthogs started waltzing
And the rhinos rock'n'rolled
The lions danced a tango
Which was elegant and bold.
The chimps all did a chacha
With a very Latin feel,
And eight baboons then teamed up
For a splendid Scottish reel".

When poor Gerald comes near the dance floor, though, the animals all start laughing at him because they know he's so clumsy. "They're right, I'm useless, oh, I feel like such a clot." thinks Gerald to himself, It then takes the wise advice of a cricket with a violin to teach Gerald that all it takes to be successful is for him to find a different song which suits his dancing style.

This is such a beautiful book with a very important message, that everybody is different and people have different strengths and weaknesses. I love this book and have used it many a times when working with 3 and 4 year olds especially on occasions when bullying and teasing seemed to come apparent. I would read the book to the children and then we would sit in a circle taking turns at saying what we liked about our friends and what we thought that everybody was good at, great for encouraging inclusion and friendships.

The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, bright, bold and fun with lots of really well done details, the pictures tell a thousand works and really complement the story that is being read, the children love these and enjoy pointing out all the funny things which the animals are doing. The story is so much fun to read with lots of rhyming words and some which are repetitive and having the children urging to join in and read along too.

This is a very special book which I feel is must for all children due to the important messages in portrays throughout in such a great way, though my daughter who is nearly 3 doesn't yet understand the true meaning of the story, she understands enough to know the animals aren't being nice when they say "Giraffes can't dance you silly fool, oh Gerald don't be daft!". Certainly a book that I will be keeping on reading to her every now and then especially when she is at the age when bullying can be mean and harmful to children.

This has such an important lesson for children everywhere 'Dance like no one is watching'. 'Live life to the fullest and do not worry about what anyone else thinks'. Along with beautiful pictures this story is told in a rhyming way about a Giraffe who just wants to dance and thru some peer pressure runs away when everyone makes fun of him. With the help of a cricket he throws caution to the wind and dances.

My eldest is learning how to read this for herself and she was so excited when the teacher at school read it to the class that she came straight home grabbed it from the bookshelf and sat down and read it to her sister. My youngest, is loving it so much she sits there and flicks through the pages herself and tells the story as she sees it. I personally love the hidden message behind this book. It is great for lifting spirits and teaching my girls the valuable lesson don't worry about what other people think.

This is a beautiful book it is told in such a way that although you feel sorry for the giraffe initially at the end you are so happy and exastic that all the other animals can see him shaking his booty and not caring about anyone and anything - I love it. Great book for ages preschool right thru to the elderly.

For the last several years Giraffes Can't Dance has been one of my favourite children's book. I have a couple of copies of it because after buying it I discovered you could also buy a copy with a cd so of course I needed that one too.

I work in ECE and every child I have shared this story with loves it. The words and pictures really manage to hold children's attention. With older children the story allows you to open up a great conversation on how every one is difference and how everyone is an individual. It's a message that every child needs to hear!

Throughout the book Gerald the Giraffe feels very sorry for himself and pretty much the outsider cos he can't dance the same way as everyone else. After some kind words and advice from a friend Gerald discovers he can dance in his own unique way! The message of individuality is woven wonderfully throughout the whole book.

The illustrations in the book are amazing each page is bright colourful and full of lots of little details. Each page just goes so well with the story. For the book and cd copy of it the cd is read at a pace where children can actually keep up with the story and there is enough time to check out the pictures before having to turn the page.

I totally love this book! After reading it to a group of children nearly six years ago I fell in love with and went out the following day to buy a big version of the book (often used in ECE centre's and schools etc), even the $50 I spent didnt put me off. I still own that book and read it every week or two - of course I know it off by heart though!

This is a funny and beautifully illustrated children's book about a giraffe called Gerald who simply just can't dance. As a result of this he always gets teased by the other animals who say mean things and Gerald laughed out of town. Along the way he meets a cricket who helps him to see and listen to what's really around him - in the process Gerald discovers he can dance!

Probably half the reason I love this book so much is that it reminds me of when I was a child myself and the slow journey I made into competitive rock n roll dancing. The moral of this story is definately a great life lesson for young children, never give up on your dreams - something I believe that every young child should learn. As an ECE teacher, reading a book which celebrates being different and doing things differently is also a great life lesson and a teaching tool.

Topping off a wonderful story line is the beautiful illustrations - bright, colourful and wacky animals doing all sorts of funny things keep the children interested as well as the rhyming words which has the children joining in.

Totally recommend this book to anyone and everyone!

Giraffe's Can't Dance is a funny, beautifully illustrated children's book about a giraffe called Gerald who can't dance. As a result, he gets teased by the other animals. After a devastating encounter at the local 'Jungle Dance', he is laughed out of town. The moral of this story is a great life lesson for young children, never give up on your dreams or listen to all the mean people out in the world that are quick to pass judgement.

Gerald meets a cricket and with the guidance of the wise and gentle cricket, Gerald learns to listen to the sounds around him and to his own body, and is able to dance so well that the other animals are left in awe. Encouraging children to stay quiet long enough to listen to the sounds around them is a feat in itself so learning to listen from the words within the book is a great way to make learning fun.

The message of this lovely rhyming tale is that it is okay to be different and dance to the beat of our own drum. Children are always moving! and as an early childhood teacher I look after 35 under 5 year old children and each and every one of them is totally different so reading a book to them about it being okay to be yourself and do wacky things that they like to do is okay, and not to take it to heart when others make fun of them.

The book is delightfully illustrated with rhinos who rock and roll, lions tangoing, and baboons performing a Scottish reel. The humour within the book appeals to the adult reading the book and the children that are listening to the book. The illustrations are very bright and colourful and the rhyming words make the book very easy to read, and the children can stay focused and join in with the words that get repeated.

Giraffe's Can't Dance makes for easy reading and the children I work with love and laugh at the pictures showing different jungle animals doing all manner of unusual things. As well as the message about being brave by doing brave things, the story is a wonderful tool for teaching about the damage prejudice can do. Such a great message within a brilliantly written and illustrated book.

If you or your children enjoy books about giraffe's or jungle animals then this is the book for you. The very eye catching cover will draw you in straight away. Go and buy a copy now as you won't regret your decision, Giraffe's Can't Dance is a very cool book!

This is my son's favourite book at the moment so we have to read it several times a day! It is one of the books I kept from when my daughter was at the picture book age because I just loved it so much and it has been such a valuable teaching resource with it's absolutely beautiful message.

The story basically runs along the lines of a giraffe that can't dance but with some encouragement from a clever cricket and the right music he learns that he truly can dance. The story reads " We all can dance, when we find music that we love" I absolutely love this and I think it sends out such a nice message to children about us all being unique, and special and how we should be confident in ourselves.

The illustrations are incredible they are bright and full of colour and show the animals in the style that they are portrayed in the book. The jungle scenery is also great with the trees and the sky. I think the illustrator is extremely talented and I have seen his work in other books by this same author which are equally great.

The story is so appealing to young children with it's fun rhyme, my daughter always thought it was hilarious when the other animals called Gerald Daft. My favourite part is when it takes about listening to the grass swaying and the trees blowing in the breeze I always use this when teaching to lead into children being quiet and listening to what noises they can hear in nature.