Leonard doesn't dance by Frances Watts illustrated by Judy Watson

There is something very reassuring about a story told with a repeated structure.  Leonard doesn't dance uses the known sequence - days of the week and a repeated question and answer format.

Leonard doesn't dance - this might be true at the start of the story but I'm sure any astute reader will predict that our hero Leonard will be dancing by the end of the story.

Back to the beginning. It is Sunday and Leonard sees that someone has nailed a poster to the trunk of his tree:

Do you like dancing?
Join your feathered friends at the 
BIG BEAKY BIRD BALL next Sunday!
All welcome.

Leonard decides to ask his friends about dancing. Can they show him how?

Monday he talks to the magpies who know how to waltz.  Poor Leonard - "wobble-wobble wonk."
Tuesday he approaches the ducks doing the do-si-do.  But his do-si-do is a do-si-don't.
Wednesday the crow are doing the can-can; Thursday it's the rosellas rocking and reeling; and Friday he sees the galahs grooving and giggling.

On the day of the dance Leonard goes into hiding. He is so upset that he cannot master these skills. He simply cannot dance so he decides to skip the ball but his kind friends seek him out and encourage him to come along anyway. Birds of every kind are having a wonderful time. Flamingos, swans, quails, bluebirds, finches, penguins and even the chickens. Leonard spies the supper table. He heads over for a cupcake but instead finds ants. When the ants swarm all over Leonard - mayhem, which looks a lot like dancing, ensues.

I would pair this with:

Brontorinia by James Howe illustrated by Randy Cecil

Gina the Dancing Queen by Marisa Arlo

Giraffes can't dance by Giles Andreae illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees

Two Left Feet by Stacey Apetios illustrated by Ulrike Kundrus (this is a wonderful book which is sadly out of print).

You will also want to explore some of the Australian bird books that are sure to be found in your school or local library. Head to 598.0994. Here is one that is just perfect:

I was excited to discover Judy Watson is the illustrator of the wonderful book Searching for Cicadas by Lesley Gibbes and Goodnight mice also by Frances Watts.

One more thing - both of these are older Australian books but they are joyous celebrations of birds and may be found in a well stocked school library.