Hip-Hop Dancing Volume 1

Gr 4—6—These volumes cover the basic moves as well as more detailed movements often seen on television programs such as So You Think You Can Dance. Though the books are numbered, they do not have to be read in any particular order. Everything about the set is jazzy and current. Sentences are short and direct, with a small-sized font detailing step-by-step instructions and fact boxes extending the information. The vocabulary consists of names of moves that range from simple compound words like "toprock" to vocabulary stretchers such as "transition" moves or "choreograph." Glossary words are bolded and are repeated in each volume. Colorful photographs of high school-aged, diverse dancers show the various moves. One to three stars indicate the complexity of the movements. While it is difficult to learn to dance using a book, readers who already have an interest can review their favorite activity and gain some interesting tidbits at the same time, such as the difference between east- and west-coast dance styles. A stand-out series.