We are excited to present an interview with Valerie Bolling, the author of the vibrant picture book, Let’s Dance!, a celebration of global dance for young readers. Bolling discusses her journey to publication, the inspiration behind her book, and offers valuable insights for aspiring authors, especially regarding the power of platforms like Just Dance Twitter for connecting with the writing community and industry professionals.
Let’s Dance! is a rhythmic and joyful exploration of dances from around the world, showcasing children from diverse backgrounds and abilities. Through engaging rhymes and energetic illustrations by Maine Diaz, the book invites young readers to tap, twirl, and boogie along with dances like the Cuban cha-cha and Irish step dance. It’s a celebration of movement, diversity, and global culture, perfect for inspiring young dancers and readers alike.
Congratulations on your debut picture book, Let’s Dance! Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.
Thank you for having me! It’s a pleasure to discuss Let’s Dance! and my journey into publishing. Bringing this book into the world has been an incredibly rewarding experience.
Could you share the journey of getting Let’s Dance! published? We understand Twitter played a role in your success.
Absolutely! The path to publication involved a lot of learning and persistence. An important step was participating in Twitter pitch contests. These contests, like #PBPitch, #DVPit, #PitMad, and #FaithPitch, are fantastic opportunities for authors. They provide a direct avenue to get your work noticed by agents and editors.
The process is straightforward: you craft a concise and engaging pitch for your book, incorporating relevant hashtags like #PB for picture book or #POC for stories featuring people of color. You then tweet your pitch during the contest. If an agent or editor “likes” your tweet, it signals their interest, and you can submit your manuscript to them, often bypassing the general query queue.
While a “like” doesn’t guarantee publication, it significantly increases your visibility. For unpublished authors looking for a break, I highly recommend exploring Just Dance Twitter and other writing-related Twitter communities to learn about and participate in these pitch contests. They can be game-changers.
You were also a mentee with We Need Diverse Books (WNDB). How did that mentorship shape your career goals?
Being a WNDB mentee, and being paired with Kelly Starling Lyons as my mentor, has been invaluable. The mentorship has provided crucial guidance and support as I navigate the publishing world.
While I had already learned a great deal about writing and publishing, the mentorship offered a deeper level of insight and personalized feedback. Working with Kelly has helped me refine my manuscripts and prepare them for submission. Beyond manuscript critiques, I’ve gained a broader understanding of the industry and the craft of writing from an award-winning and prolific author.
My primary career goal is to connect with as many young readers as possible. I want my books to be enjoyed, reread, and shared. For me, success is measured by the impact my stories have on readers, inspiring them and bringing them joy. Mentorships like the WNDB program are essential for authors striving to reach and resonate with their audience. Connecting with experienced authors and communities, even online through platforms like Just Dance Twitter where writers share resources and encouragement, is incredibly beneficial.
Let’s Dance! showcases a variety of dances and includes descriptions at the end. Why was it important to you to feature diverse dances and children?
Including diverse dances and children was central to my vision for Let’s Dance! The book features ten dances from around the globe. At the end, for each dance, there’s a brief, accessible description. This global perspective and the idea for the back matter came from my editor at Boyds Mills & Kane, Jes Negrón.
From the outset, I emphasized to Jes my desire to portray diverse children, particularly those from marginalized and underrepresented communities. Jes not only embraced this but expanded upon it, envisioning the book as a celebration of global dances. This aligned perfectly with my aim to create a book that reflects the rich tapestry of our world and encourages inclusivity. The vibrant illustrations by Maine Diaz beautifully bring this vision to life, showcasing children of all backgrounds joyfully engaging in dance.
Which authors have inspired your work, and who do you consider mentor texts, particularly for Let’s Dance!?
Many authors have inspired me, and I often study their books as mentor texts. Kelly Starling Lyons, Matt de la Peña, Jacqueline Woodson, and Oge Mora are among those who have significantly influenced my writing.
For Let’s Dance!, Summer Wonders by Bob Raczka was a particularly helpful mentor text. My friend Marianne McShane, a writer and former librarian, suggested I read it as I was revising my manuscript. It provided valuable insights into crafting rhythmic and engaging text for young readers. Observing how other authors approach similar themes and structures is a crucial part of the learning process for any writer. Following authors and illustrators on platforms like Just Dance Twitter can also provide ongoing inspiration and insights into current trends in children’s literature.
You have a background as an educator. How has your experience in education influenced your writing for Let’s Dance!?
Being an educator is integral to my identity as a writer. In fact, I still work full-time as an Instructional Coach, supporting middle and high school teachers, after years of teaching elementary and middle school English.
My experience in education profoundly shapes my writing process. Firstly, it instilled in me a commitment to lifelong learning. Just as I encourage my students to be curious and open to learning, I approach writing with the same mindset. I actively seek out learning opportunities through webinars, conferences, online communities, and fellow writers. I believe in collaborative learning, just as I did in my classroom, recognizing that we can all learn from each other.
Secondly, my educator background emphasizes the importance of revision. I’ve always stressed to my students the critical role of revision in improving their work, and now I diligently apply that principle to my own writing. Revision is not just about correcting mistakes; it’s about refining and strengthening the story to make it the best it can be. This iterative process, much like teaching, requires patience, reflection, and a willingness to continuously improve.
You’ve traveled extensively. Are there any favorite places that have influenced your work, and where would you travel to next?
Travel has definitely broadened my perspective and enriched my writing. Recently, my husband and I visited friends in California for a winter break. We also have plans to visit friends in Florida for spring break and Rwanda this summer.
If I could travel anywhere else right now, it would be New Zealand. It’s a destination my husband and I both dream of exploring. Experiencing different cultures and landscapes firsthand provides invaluable inspiration and adds depth to my writing, informing the diverse perspectives I aim to capture in my books.
What other picture books resonate with Let’s Dance!? Are there any you would recommend to readers?
That’s a wonderful question. There are many recent picture books by marginalized authors that share thematic connections with Let’s Dance! Here are a few recommendations:
- This Is It by Daria Peoples-Riley: This book beautifully captures the anticipation and self-encouragement of a young dancer preparing for an audition. While Let’s Dance! celebrates the joy of free movement, This Is It focuses on the focused dedication of performance. They both highlight different facets of the dance experience.
- The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad: The bond between sisters and the older sister’s confidence in wearing a hijab are powerful. In Let’s Dance!, a girl in a hijab is depicted dancing, creating a subtle connection in celebrating cultural identity and expression through movement.
- Saturday by Oge Mora: This book emphasizes the special connection between a mother and daughter through their weekly Saturday ritual. Let’s Dance! encourages similar joyful interactions, suggesting dance as another way to create shared moments of happiness, especially on days spent indoors.
- Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes: The book celebrates the confidence and self-esteem boost a fresh haircut provides. Let’s Dance! echoes this feeling of joy and confidence, suggesting that dance is another way to express and embody that feeling of being “magnificent, flawless, like royalty.”
- Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña: This book highlights the beauty of community and connection within a neighborhood. Let’s Dance! expands this sense of community to a global scale, celebrating the universal language of dance that connects people across cultures.
- Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love: The scene of Julián dancing with mermaids is magical and celebrates self-expression and embracing one’s true self. Let’s Dance! also subtly promotes inclusivity, with a non-gender-specific ballet dancer, resonating with themes of self-acceptance and breaking gender stereotypes in dance.
- Sing a Song: How “Lift Every Voice and Sing” Inspired Generations by Kelly Starling Lyons: Given the connection between singing and dancing, these books share a celebration of cultural expression and heritage. They could spark conversations about the role of art forms in preserving and celebrating cultural identity.
- The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander: This powerful book honors the resilience and perseverance of Black people. Let’s Dance! can be seen as a celebration of that spirit, highlighting dance as an expression of joy and resilience even in the face of adversity.
- The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson: This book emphasizes the beauty of individual differences and finding connection despite them. Let’s Dance! complements this message by showing how dance is a universal language spoken with diverse “accents,” celebrating both individuality and shared human experience.
- Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor: The subtitle perfectly encapsulates the spirit of dance celebrated in Let’s Dance! Both books encourage embracing individuality and celebrating diverse ways of being and expressing oneself.
Valerie Bolling’s Let’s Dance! is a vibrant and important addition to children’s literature, celebrating diversity, global culture, and the universal joy of dance. Her journey to publication, including leveraging platforms like Just Dance Twitter, offers valuable lessons and encouragement for aspiring authors.
About Valerie Bolling:
Valerie Bolling has dedicated over 25 years to education and has been writing since childhood. A graduate of Tufts University and Columbia University, Teachers College, she currently works as an Instructional Coach for middle and high school teachers. Beyond picture books, Valerie shares insights for educators through her Monthly Memo on Twitter and has been published in The National Writing Project’s Quarterly and NESCBWI News. Her poetic work has also been recognized by Cricket Media. Valerie is actively involved in writing communities, including NCTE, SCBWI, NESCBWI Equity and Inclusion Committee, the Authors Guild, WNDB Mentorship Program, #12X12PB, 2020 Diverse Debuts, 20/20 Vision Picture Books, and a picture book critique group. She resides in Connecticut with her husband and enjoys travel, hiking, reading, theater, and dancing.
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