Gerald the giraffe doesn't really have delusions of grandeur. He just wants to dance. But his knees are crooked and his legs are thin, and all the other animals mock him when he approaches the dance floor at the annual Jungle Dance. "Hey, look at clumsy Gerald," they sneer. "Oh, Gerald, you're so weird." Poor Gerald slinks away as the chimps cha-cha, rhinos rock 'n' roll, and warthogs waltz. But an encouraging word from an unlikely source shows this glum giraffe that those who are different "just need a different song," and soon he is prancing and sashaying and boogying to moon music (with a cricket accompanist). In the vein of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Gerald's fickle "friends" quickly decide he's worthy of their attention again.

With this rhyming, poignant (in a cartoonish way) tale, Giles Andreae, author of Rumble in the Jungle, and numerous other picture books, shows insecure young readers that everyone can be wonderful, even those that march to the beat of a different cricket. The rhymes are somewhat awkward, but the bold, bright watercolors by Guy Parker-Rees will invite readers to kick up their heels and find their own internal harmony. (Ages 3 to 6) --Emilie Coulter


From Publishers Weekly
All the jungle's got the beat, but Gerald the giraffe has four left feet. Such is the dilemma in this British team's bouncy if didactic picture book about self-esteem. As a multitude of fleet-footed beasts eagerly "skip and prance" at the annual Jungle Dance in Africa, Gerald feels sad "because when it comes to dancing/ he was really very bad." Jeered by waltzing warthogs and cha-cha-ing chimps when he attempts to cut a rug, Gerald hangs his head and leaves the celebration behind. Luckily, a friendly cricket appears in the moonlight, chirping a morale-boosting song of self-confidence that soon sets Gerald in graceful motion. Andreae's rhyming text has a jaunty rhythm that's likely to spark interest in the read-aloud crowd, in spite of a heavy-handed message. Parker-Rees's kicky depictions of slightly anthropomorphic animals boogying on the dance floor are the highlight here. His watercolor and pen-and-ink artwork exudes a fun, party vibe. Ages 3-6. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
reS-K-A clumsy giraffe is instantly transformed into an exceptional dancer when he finds music that he loves. Gerald has tall, thin legs, which are good for standing still, but when he tries to run, his crooked knees buckle. At the annual Jungle Dance, he is laughed off the floor. A cricket tells him that "-sometimes when you're different you just need a different song." This advice enables the lonely creature to dance, much to the amazement of the other animals. The rhythmic text follows a pattern of four lines per stanza. Some rhyme and others do not. Some flow smoothly; others are forced. One line states that, "He threw his arms out sideways-." Huh! Giraffes don't have arms. Full-page color illustrations done in pen and ink and watercolor are bold and warm. Characters are whimsical and expressive, but they don't make up for the drastic and unbelievable turnaround that takes place upon hearing the cricket play his violin. For stories about individuality, stick with Helen Lester's Tacky the Penguin (1988) and Three Cheers for Tacky (1994, both Houghton) or Robert Kraus's Leo the Late Bloomer (HarperCollins, 1971) and Owliver (Prentice-Hall, 1974; o.p.).Kathleen Simonetta, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, ILCopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


Book Description
Gerald is a giraffe who simply can¹t dance. Try as he may, his long, spindly legs buckle whenever he starts to boogie. Every year he dreads going to the Great jungle Dance, until one night he finds his own special music.


Card catalog description
Gerald the giraffe is too clumsy to dance with all the other animals at the Jungle Dance, until he finds the right music.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
Gerald the Giraffe is a charming happy gent who has one aspiration -- to dance. The extra-tall giraffe is a bit wobbly in the knees, and his every attempt to boogie results with Gerald on the ground. It's time for the annual Jungle Dance, where all the creatures of the kingdom shake their respective tails. The lions dance the tango, and the chimps cha-cha-cha. As Gerald nears the dance circle, the animals snicker, "Hey, look at clumsy Gerald. Giraffes can't dance, you silly fool!" Sad and embarrassed, he retreats to his home. On the way, he bumps into a compassionate cricket who suggests that "Sometimes when you're different you just need a different song." So Gerald takes a new approach to dancing, as he listens to the wind in the trees and the swaying grass. And soon, with all the grace of a swan and the fancy moves of a pro, he dances for his jungle friends, who watch in astonishment.

This amazing tale offers keen advice and adorable illustrations under the guise of a simple picture book. Illustrator Guy Parker-Rees perfectly portrays Gerald's frustration and humiliation over his supposed inability to dance. And the scenes in which the other denizens of the forest cut a rug will have kids rolling in the aisle -- it's not every day that you see two warthogs waltzing! Author Giles Andrews mixes rhyming text and simple language to create a strong message about individuality and the power of dancing to the tune of a different drummer, a lesson that makes this glorious picture book perfect for children and adults. (Amy Barkat)

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Gerald the giraffe longs to dance, but his legs are too skinny and his neck is too long. His knees buckle whenever he tries to twirl. At the Jungle Dance, the warthogs waltz, the chimps cha-cha, and the lions tango. "Giraffes can't dance," they all jeer when it's Gerald's turn to prance. But there is one little creature who believes in Gerald. "Everything makes music," the cricket explains, "if you really want it to." So Gerald starts swaying to his own sweet tune.

With light-footed rhymes and high-stepping illustrations, this tale is gentle inspiration for every child with dreams of greatness.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

All the jungle's got the beat, but Gerald the giraffe has four left feet. Such is the dilemma in this British team's bouncy if didactic picture book about self-esteem. As a multitude of fleet-footed beasts eagerly "skip and prance" at the annual Jungle Dance in Africa, Gerald feels sad "because when it comes to dancing/ he was really very bad." Jeered by waltzing warthogs and cha-cha-ing chimps when he attempts to cut a rug, Gerald hangs his head and leaves the celebration behind. Luckily, a friendly cricket appears in the moonlight, chirping a morale-boosting song of self-confidence that soon sets Gerald in graceful motion. Andreae's rhyming text has a jaunty rhythm that's likely to spark interest in the read-aloud crowd, in spite of a heavy-handed message. Parker-Rees's kicky depictions of slightly anthropomorphic animals boogying on the dance floor are the highlight here. His watercolor and pen-and-ink artwork exudes a fun, party vibe. Ages 3-6. (Sept.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Children's Literature

Every animal at the African Jungle Dance sneers at poor Gerald the giraffe when it is his turn to perform. The chimps did a brilliant cha-cha, the warthogs waltzed beautifully, and the rhinos rocked and rolled, but clumsy Gerald's knees buckle and his legs twist so he flees the party in shame. While admiring the beautiful moon, a friendly cricket offers hope to the despondent giraffe. "Listen to the swaying grass/ and listen to the trees./ To me the sweetest music/ is those branches in the breeze." While the cricket fiddles, Gerald learns to listen to the music that surrounds him. With bouncy breezy rhymes and vivid watercolor, pen and ink illustrations, young children are sure to be inspired by this heart-warming tale. A class of first graders loved hearing the story and viewing the colorful pictures. A lively discussion focused on values, dreaming and attaining success. 2001, Orchard Books, $15.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Laura Hummel AGES: 4 5 6 7 8

School Library Journal

PreS-K-A clumsy giraffe is instantly transformed into an exceptional dancer when he finds music that he loves. Gerald has tall, thin legs, which are good for standing still, but when he tries to run, his crooked knees buckle. At the annual Jungle Dance, he is laughed off the floor. A cricket tells him that "-sometimes when you're different you just need a different song." This advice enables the lonely creature to dance, much to the amazement of the other animals. The rhythmic text follows a pattern of four lines per stanza. Some rhyme and others do not. Some flow smoothly; others are forced. One line states that, "He threw his arms out sideways-." Huh! Giraffes don't have arms. Full-page color illustrations done in pen and ink and watercolor are bold and warm. Characters are whimsical and expressive, but they don't make up for the drastic and unbelievable turnaround that takes place upon hearing the cricket play his violin. For stories about individuality, stick with Helen Lester's Tacky the Penguin (1988) and Three Cheers for Tacky (1994, both Houghton) or Robert Kraus's Leo the Late Bloomer (HarperCollins, 1971) and Owliver (Prentice-Hall, 1974; o.p.).-Kathleen Simonetta, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews