Recommended Reading for A Man Standing Backpack

Showtime! What kind of performer would you like to be? Enjoy books about dancing, magic shows, and more.

Updated June 3, 2026
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Astrid & Apollo and the awesome dance audition
Bidania, V. T.
Paper Book
Astrid and Apollo watch their cousin Lily in an amazing dance performance, and she convinces them to audition for the Hmong dance school she attends. Astrid is excited, but Apollo isn't so sure. The twins learn the audition routine and work hard to prepare for the big day. When Apollo faces a...
Banana bop! : a monster show
Boynton, Sandra
Paper Book
Introduce little ones to their soon-to-be-favorite word with this seriously silly board book from the one and only Sandra Boynton. Banana Bop! is a book of few words--and most of them are "banana." But we challenge you to find a better word to repeat over and over again...
Woodland dance!
Boynton, Sandra
Paper Book
The moose plays the cello. The deer, violin. And it's ONE-two-three, ONE-two-three, time to begin! Destined to be a read-aloud favorite, Woodland Dance is a mystical, waltzing story from beloved author and illustrator Sandra Boynton, and a magical book to share with a...
Barnyard dance!
Boynton, Sandra
Paper Book
Now available in an oversized lap edition! Get ready to do-si-do in the barnyard with bestselling and beloved Sandra Boynton's animal crew in this lively board book! Join twirling pigs, fiddle-playing cows, and other unforgettable animals in their barnyard...
Dancing feet!
Craig, Lindsey.
Paper Book
Clickity!nbsp;Clickity! Long green feet!nbsp;nbsp; Who is dancing that clickity beat? Lizard is dancing on clickity feet. nbsp; Clickity! Clickity! Happy feet! Introducing a get-up-and-dance toddler book-so catchy and rhythmic, you'll...
Llama Llama dance recital fun
Dewdney, Anna
Paper Book
Look out, world-Llama Llama is a TV star! The beloved character, made famous by Anna Dewdney's best-selling picture books, is the star of his own original series, now airing on Netflix. This episode-based Penguin Young Reader tells the story of Llama Llama helping his friend Luna get over her stage...
Tanya and the red shoes
Gauch, Patricia Lee.
Paper Book
Tanya, the spunky little ballerina who has danced through six other books by Gauch and Ichikawa, is growing up-but not as quickly as she wants to! When she sees the famous ballet The Red Shoes, Tanya wants to dance on toe, too. But everyone says "Not yet. One day, perhaps." When the day comes...
Meet the Marching Smithereens
Hayes, Ann.
Paper Book
Join the animal musicians of the Marching Smithereens a they introduce the instruments and sounds of the marching band. Brass, percussion, and woodwinds come together in a wildly fun musical ensemble. A rhythmic text offers facts about the band and its instruments. Full color.
Meet the orchestra
Hayes, Ann.
Paper Book
This lyrical romp through the orchestra begins with animal musicians slowly gathering for the evening performance. Poetic descriptions suggest the sounds of the instruments, and lively watercolor illustrations capture the playful essence of each musician and musical instrument. "It's a smashing...
Violet's music
Johnson, Angela
Paper Book
There's nothing Violet loves more than music, and she plays or sings every chance she gets. But where are the other kids like her-kids who think and dream music all day long? As a baby, in kindergarten, at the beach and the zoo, she never gives up looking for companions. And then one summer day......
The scrambled states of America talent show
Keller, Laurie.
Paper Book
Those wacky scrambled states are back. This time they've come together for a spectacular show featuring their many goofball talents. But just when Indiana (the director) is about to callSHOWTIME!, Georgia gets a bad case of stage fright and can't perform in her juggling act. Will the show...
The story of the incredible orchestra
Koscielniak, Bruce.
Paper Book
Have you ever seen an orchestra perform? What are all those different instruments and how do they all play just the right note at just the right time? In this fact-filled and entertaining picture book, Bruce Koscielniak gives us a lively look at the history of the orchestra and all the...
Ty's Travels : Show Time
Lyons, Kelly Starling/ Mata, Nina (ILT)
Paper Book
Ty rocks out with friends in this new book in the Geisel Honor-winning series! Join Ty on his imaginative adventures in Ty's Travels: Showtime, a My First I Can Read story by acclaimed author and illustrator team Kelly Starling Lyons and Niña Mata. Music, imagination,...
Music
McDonald, Jill
Paper Book
Learn from home and explore the world with these fun and easy board books! Every young child loves to listen to music, bang on drums, and pound the keys of a piano. Now here's a Hello, World! board book that can teach babies and toddlers all about musical instruments and the...
I am Jim Henson
Meltzer, Brad
Paper Book
Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets and Sesame Street, is the 11th hero in the New York Times bestselling picture book biography series for ages 5 to 8. Jim Henson, was always dreaming up something new, and always expressing his belief in the goodness of people....
Dancing with daddy
Schulte, Anitra Rowe
Paper Book
Winner of the Christopher Award Elsie can't wait to go to her first father-daughter dance. She picked out the perfect dress and has been practicing swirling and swaying in her wheelchair. Elsie's heart pirouettes as she prepares for her special night. With gestures, smiles, and...
Tallulah's tap shoes
Singer, Marilyn.
Paper Book
It's summer, and Tallulah is excited about going to dance camp. She'll get to take plenty of ballet classes. She'll have to take tap, too, and she's NOT excited about that. She's never taken tap before, so she'll be a beginning beginner. And she's right--tap class is not much fun. Plus there's a...
Yoko's show-and-tell
Wells, Rosemary.
Paper Book
When Yoko's grandparents send her a beautiful antique doll named Miki all the way from Japan, Yoko couldn't be happier. She places Miki on her red carpet and brings her candy until Girls' Festival on March 3. Even though Mama said no, Yoko decides to sneak Miki to school for show-and-tell....
Elephants cannot dance!
Willems, Mo.
Paper Book
Mo Willems, award-winning, New York Times best-selling creator of The Pigeon, Knuffle Bunny, and Unlimited Squirrels, presents best friends Elephant Gerald and Piggie.   Gerald is careful. Piggie is not. Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can. Gerald...
Hilda must be dancing
Wilson, Karma.
Paper Book
Swisha-swisha Clap! Clap! Jump, Jump, Jump! "Hilda must be dancing!" Hilda Hippo loves to dance! But there's just one problem. When Hilda dances, it sounds like this: Ka-bump! Ka-bump! Crash! Crash! Crash! Thumpity-bump!
Play this book
Young, Jessica
Paper Book
For fans of Press Here, this interactive picture book invites readers to touch and move and "play" with the book. To start our show we need a band--maybe you can lend a hand! There are lots of ways little hands can make music. Each page of this...

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