James the Dancing Dog - Hardcover

Linda Maybarduk was born in New York City and raised in Orlando, Florida. During her fifteen-year career as a first soloist with the National Ballet of Canada, she danced a wide range of leading roles and was hailed as one of the company’s most versatile dancers and actresses. She has also appeared in guest appearances on stage, television, and film. Her partners have included Mikhail Baryshnikov, Peter Martins, Anthony Dowell, Fernando Bujones, and Rudolf Nureyev. Her first book, The Dancer Who Flew: A Memoir of Rudolf Nureyev – a tribute to her colleague, mentor and friend – garnered several North American award nominations and provided Linda with a new career as a guest lecturer and teacher to major arts and dance organizations, performing arts centers, and universities. While in the National Ballet, Linda toured and shared many lunches with the star of this book, James the Beagle. Today, she shares her life with her husband, three children, and her airedale, Ivy.

Gillian Johnson is a gifted athlete, teacher, storyteller, and artist. Her first children’s book, Saranohair, was awarded Honorable Mention for the Graphics Prize in Bologna in 1992. My Sister Gracie, published in 2000, was awarded the Alcuin Design Award and has earned fans in Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Iceland, and Venezuela. She has collaborated with author Richard Scrimger, providing the illustrations for their books about Baby Bun Bun, which include, most recently, Eugene’s Story. She also illustrated Dennis Lee’s The Cat and the Wizard. Gillian Johnson lives with her husband, writer Nicholas Shakespeare, and their sons in Tasmania and England.

Kindergarten-Grade 3–Dogs can have big dreams, too. Not just doggie dreams of slow, fat cats, but of a grander life. And so it is with James. His parents go to the ballet company each day. So does James. The dancers practice their moves. So does James. Maybe some don't recognize that he has a dancer's soul, but he is not deterred from his goal. He wants to perform in the spotlight. When a wolfhound is chosen for the part of the hunting dog in Giselle, he is devastated. However, when the animal gets stage fright, James is ready. Based on a real dog who worked at the National Ballet of Canada, this is a delightful story of determination, hope, and being prepared when opportunities arise. Children will love James and sympathize as he doggedly pursues his dream. Johnson's cartoon ink-and-watercolor illustrations are light-filled and add detail and humor to Maybarduk's charming story. The text is well paced and well spaced, creating a book that leaves children with a lovely, sweet aftertaste. Combine it with Patricia Lee Gauch's Presenting Tanya,the Ugly Duckling (Philomel, 1999) and Elizabeth Winthrop's Dumpy La Rue (Holt, 2001) for a trio of heartwarming books about unlikely animals with dreams of dancing.–Mary Hazelton, Warren Community School, ME
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