Giraffes Can't Dance - by Giles Andreae (Hardcover)

About the Book

Gerald is a giraffe that can't dance. Try as he might, 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. Full-color illustrations.

Book Synopsis

Gerald the giraffe longs to dance but his knees seem to buckle whenever he tries to twirl. Will he learn to sway to his own sweet tune? Find out in this gentle ode to dancing to the beat of your own drum.

Giraffes Can't Dance is a touching tale of Gerald the giraffe, who wants nothing more than to dance. With crooked knees and thin legs, it's harder for a giraffe than you would think. But with some words of encouragement from an unlikely friend, he might just find the courage to be himself on the dance floor.

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

Review Quotes

Andreae's rhyming text has a jaunty rhythm that's likely to spark interest in the read-aloud crowd... Parker-Rees's kicky depictions of slighly anthropomorphic animals boogying on the dance floor are the highlight here. His watercolor and pen-and-ink artwork exudes a fun, party vibe.

-- Publishers Weekly, September 10th, 2001

A clumsy giraffe is instantly transformed into an exceptional dancer when he finds music that he loves. Full-page color illustrations done in pen and ink and watercolor are bold and warm.

--- School Library Journal, October 2001

About the Author

Giles Andreae is the author of many top-selling, award-winning picture books. These include Free to Be Elephant Me, Rumble in the Jungle, Commotion in the Ocean, and I Love My Mummy. However, it is for the international bestseller Giraffes Can't Dance that he is best known. Giles lives with his wife, Victoria, a children's clothes designer, and their four children by the river in Oxfordshire, UK.
Guy Parker-Rees' exuberant and energetic illustrations have made him a household name and one of today's bestselling children's illustrators. Notable successes include the picture book classic Giraffes Can't Dance, a worldwide bestseller; Spooky Hour; and Free to Be Elephant Me. Guy lives in Brighton, UK, with his wife and three sons.