Dancing the Tinikling

July 1, 2023
Grades K-3 This sweet debut picture book explores a child's experience of growing up multicultural as a Filipino American. Jojo is a young boy who is invited to dance by his grandmother Lola. She is dancing the tinikling, the national dance of the Philippines that uses long bamboo poles that clap at different beats. While Jojo trips over his feet, Lola smoothly dances both the tinikling and hip-hop, easily shifting between different cultures. Jojo is learning to do the same, speaking Tagalog and English and eating Filipino and American foods. Before long, Jojo, too, is smoothly dancing the tinikling, joyfully traversing both his American and Filipino heritages. Capturing the cheerful spirit and message of the story are the colorful digital illustrations by Filipino artist Cerna, whose use of color and the characters' facial features reveals her classic Disney influences. Back matter provides additional information about the tinikling dance and deepens parallels between the dance and the graceful navigation Filipino Americans must make between different worlds. A child-friendly affirming mirror and an illuminating window.

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