Jose! Born to Dance: The Story of Jose Limon

José! Born to Dance tells the story of a boy born in a small Mexican village who became one of the greatest dancers of all time--José Limón.

José was a boy with a song in his heart and a dance in his step. Born in Mexico in 1908, he came into the world kicking like a steer, and grew up to love to draw, play the piano, and dream. José's dreaming took him to faraway places. He dreamed of bullfighters and the sounds of the cancan dancers that he saw with his father. Dance lit a fire in José's soul.

With his heart to guide him, José left his family and went to New York to dance. He learned to flow and float and fly through space with steps like a Mexican breeze. When José danced, his spirit soared. From New York to lands afar, José Limón became known as the man who gave the world his own kind of dance.

Susanna Reich's lyrical text and Raúl Colón's shimmering artwork tell the story of a boy who was determined to make a difference in the world, and did. José! Born to Dance will inspire picture book readers to follow their hearts and live their dreams.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Published: 08/01/2005
Pages: 32
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 11.10h x 8.70w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9780689865763
Age: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.4
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 89941 / Jose! Born to Dance: The Story of Jose Limon


Review Citation(s):
Ingram Children's Advance 07/01/2005 pg. 29
Poder Hispanic 06/01/2005 pg. 68
Kirkus Review - Children 07/01/2005 pg. 742
Booklist 08/01/2005 pg. 1965
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 09/01/2005 pg. 39 - Recommended
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2006 - Recommended, Satisfactory
School Library Journal 10/01/2005 pg. 144
Multicultural Review 06/01/2006 pg. 96
Publishers Weekly 11/21/2005

About the Author
Susanna Reich is the author of Clara Schumann: Piano Virtuoso, which was named an NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book, an ALA Notable Book, and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. A former professional dancer, Ms. Reich lives with her family in Ossining, New York.

Raúl Colón is the award-winning illustrator of many picture books, including Draw!, an ALA Notable Book and recipient of the International Latino Book Award; Imagine!, an ALA Notable Book, a New York Public Library Best Book for Kids, and a BookPage Best Book; Susanna Reich's José! Born to Dance; Angela's Christmas by Frank McCourt; and Jill Biden's Don't Forget, God Bless Our Troops. Mr. Colón lived in Puerto Rico as a young boy and now resides in New City, New York, with his family.