An alligator dancing ballet? When the reptile takes her place at the barre, Mrs. Iraina and her dancers are very surprised. But since they can't communicate with the alligator--and she is able to follow along--they just decide to name her Tanya and let her stay. (Would YOU say no to a 450-pound alligator?) Mrs. Iraina even creates a special ballet to showcase Tanya's larger-than-life talents . . . and super-swishy tail. Then, without warning, Tanya disappears. Funny and irreverent, Dance Is for Everyone shows that, with just a little understanding, anyone can fit in--even a dancing alligator.

"The illustrations are stylized and quirky, and the plot is engaging, with jokes that adults will appreciate peppered throughout. The narrative conveys the story's message of inclusion in a subtle manner, but the book's title makes this important theme abundantly clear. VERDICT A fun read-aloud and a welcome addition to medium and large collections, best shared one-on-one or in a small group setting." --School Library Journal