Read & Romp Roundup -- July 2012

It's that time again. Time to pull together all the great blog posts that were submitted for last month's Read & Romp Roundup. Thanks so much to everyone who contributed. I think we have another really great roundup!

Maria from Maria's Movers introduces readers to Prima the Ballerina in Her Backyard -- an interactive book by professional dancers Nikki and Ethan White. The book can be used as a lesson plan for teaching movement to children and is the first in a planned series!

At Flowering Minds, Darshana reviews Yawning Yoga, written by children's yoga specialist Laurie Jordan with illustrations by Aaron Randy. Full of yoga poses to release energy and relaxation exercises to calm the mind, this book can help young children slow down for bed!

Angela at OMazing Kids shares one of her new favorite ABC books to incorporate into yoga classes for kids. ABC Menagerie contains an animal and rhyme for each letter of the alphabet, plus what Angela describes as "quirky felt animal structures" as illustrations. A great book to accompany animal poses!

The "OMazing" Angela also shares an updated list of 222 picture books she thinks would be good choices to use in children's yoga classes. Wow! Plus, she reports that she is working on a separate list of children's books designed specifically to teach yoga and mindfulness. Can't wait to see it!

Amy at Picture-Book-a-Day is reviewing a different picture book every day this year. Lucky for us, she reviewed two dance-related books in July! The first is Bea at Ballet by Rachel Isadora. "If your child is starting ballet class soon, this is the perfect book to introduce them to the format and conventions of class," says Amy.

The second book Amy reviews is This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt and R.G. Roth. Written to the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man," the book celebrates the lives and music of 10 jazz legends. One of those legends -- who made music with his feet! -- is tap dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. In her post, Amy also recommends some activities and other books to go along with this fun and jazzy book!

Deanna at Little Namaste Yoga posts about All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon and Marla Frazee. In one of her favorite lessons to teach, Deanna uses the book to find new "places" for her students to explore. As the scenes in the book change, Deanna uses yoga, songs, and other sensory activities to enhance the experiences of her young students.