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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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
Everybody sing along--because it's time to do-si-do in the barnyard with a high-spirited animal crew! From Boynton on Board, the bestselling series of board books, here is BARNYARD DANCE, with Sandra Boynton's twirling pigs, fiddle-playing cows, and other unforgettable animals. Extra-big, extra...
Dancing with the Dinosaurs
Clarke, Jane
Paper Book
Which prehistoric performers are set to appear? Quick, take a look: T-Rex is here. His fang-tastic tango burns up the floor. Isn't that exciting? But wait . . . there's more. See some disco with the Duckbills, tap-happy raptors, Tracey Tops with body pops, and a moonwalk with Miss Maia. The All-saur...
Maisy goes to a show
Cousins, Lucy
Paper Book
Are you ready for the big show? Maisy and her friends show little ones what it's like to attend their first live performance. Today, Maisy and her friends are off to the theater to see a show starring Flora Fantastica! First they line up to show their tickets. After the usher...
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...
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...
Scamper and the horse show
Haas, Jessie.
Paper Book
·Scamper and the Horse Show will be featured in the HarperCollins booth at major institutional conferences, including TLA, IRA, ALA and NCTE ·Finished books will be sent to a list of 550 large school and public library...
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: Super Ty!
Lyons, Kelly Starling
Paper Book
Ty soars as a superhero in this new book in the Geisel Honor-winning series! Join Ty on his fun adventures in Ty's Travels: Super Ty!, a My First I Can Read book by acclaimed author and illustrator team Kelly Starling Lyons and Niña Mata. Imagination, helpfulness, and play are highlighted,...
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....
Magic spell
Paschkis, Julie
Paper Book
Award-winning author and illustrator Julie Paschkis casts a spell to transform word play into an entertaining and hilarious picture book that's perfect for reading aloud. With his trusty assistant, Zaza, by his side, magician the Great Aziz can turn a dish into a...
Tap dance troubles
Reid, C. L.
Paper Book
Click. Clack. Tap, tap, tap. Emma just started dance lessons and is determined to learn the routine perfectly. But dance isn't as easy as she had hoped. Thankfully Emma doesn't give up easily! Emma proves that hard work and practice will take those tap dance troubles away in this early chapter book...
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...
The magic rabbit
Watson, Richard Jesse.
Paper Book
Award-winning artist Richard Jesse Watson presents a warm, funny story about a rabbit who finds many treasures inside his magic hat--but nothing that's better than a special friend to share them with. One day, a magic rabbit hops out of a hat and discovers he can do tricks with it....
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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