APRIL
AFRICAN AMERICAN/PICTURE BOOK | AGES 4–8 | 13
MY FRIEND MAYA LOVES TO DANCE By Cheryl Willis Hudson Illustrated by Eric Velasquez Young dancers will twirl and leap as Maya and her friend share a love of dance in two very unique ways. The pages of this rhyming picture book themselves seem to dance, thanks to the charming verse of Cheryl Willis Hudson and the vibrant colors and motion of Eric Velasquez’s paintings. A young narrator tells readers about her friend Maya, who absolutely loves to dance. In fact, Maya can’t get enough of dance: the music, the costumes, the grand entrances, the pirouettes, the magic of recitals, and the final bows. She even loves the hard work of practice. But Maya isn’t dancing just for herself.
Also available Illustrated by Eric Velasquez
Her friend the narrator plays a role, too. True friendship is showcased as the narrator and her pal share the magic of dance as each can experience it.
The Other Mozart: The Life of the Famous Chevalier de Saint-George ISBN: 978-0-8109-5720-6 USISBN $18.95 CAN $24.95 978-0-8109-5720-6
SPECIFICATIONS: 32 pages, full color, 10 x 9" Hardcover with jacket
5 1 8 9 5 9
ISBN: 978-0-8109-8328-1 US $16.95 CAN $21.95
780810 957206 “Elegant paintings, framed in regal hues . . .”
51695
—Publishers Weekly “The heart of the book is Velasquez’s original artwork.” —School Library Journal
9 CARTON 7 8 0 8 1 0QTY: 9 8 330 281
>> National dance magazine publicity
APRIL RIGHTS: WORLD
Cheryl Willis Hudson is the cofounder and editorial director of Just Us Books, an indepen-dent publisher of black-interest books for children and young adults. She has written many books for children, and lives in New Jersey. Eric Velasquez is the illustrator of numerous picture books and a recipient of the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for new talent. He lives in Hartsdale, New York. You can learn more about him at www.ericvelasquez.com.
abrams | spring 2010 | www.abramsyoungreaders.com