Diana Dances by author Luciano Lozano is a fun children’s book. Our oldest daughter loved reading it to our younger!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of Diana Dances in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Annick Press Ltd for this DRC.

Diana is a sweet and adorable little gal who likes to have fun...school and homework are not fun.
Diana has trouble concentrating in school and is failing math.

Instead of talking with Diana her mother immediately gets her a math tutor.
When that doesn't work she takes Diana to a family doctor to find out what's "wrong" with Diana.
When that doesn't work she takes her kid to a psychologist who decides Diana is a dancer and that's why she doesn't do homework.
Ummmmmm.
This all seemed really unrealistic to me.
I guess for a mother who doesn't notice her kid never does homework and who didn't bother to take an interest in her kid's habits prior to this... that passing her kid off on other people is probably the norm for her.

I have some conflicting feelings on this little book. Diana is struggling in school and that is relatable for kids, but the reaction of her mother is to go to the doctor and then a psychologist to see what is “wrong” with Diana. I feel like this is kind of a strange message to send to children, and seems more aimed at parents because the lesson of the book is that nothing is “wrong” with Diana, she just needs to move and learns best while being allowed to move her body. I did love the parts after Diana started dancing because she learns what works best for her, is more confident, and finds a lifelong love of dancing regardless of if it will bring her fame.

This book is niether bad nor great, but is instead interesting. I do think children would love the illustrations and the second half of the story. It could be useful in a setting where children are learning how to work through their energy with a parent, teacher, or therapist?

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lozano tells the story of Diana, a little girl who loves to skateboard, be outside, and basically do anything except learn multiplication tables and school, in general. Threatened with repeating her current grade, her mother finds her a private tutor, but even he can't keep her interested in math. The family doctor suggested a psychologist, and the psychologist recommended dance classes. So, Diana found her outlet through dance, and through that outlet she learned her math and passed the grade.

While the story was cute, and the illustrations are wonderful, it really wasn't a story I enjoyed fully. Teachers, in my experience, do not send letters home to inform that failing one task will result in the student's retention. The mother's response was not to talk to her daughter, but rather to take her straight to the doctor as though having energy and a dislike of school means being ill. The first part of the story revolves around there being something wrong with Diana. That her actions are wrong, when they are not. The best thing I liked about the book was the end when Diana thinks its okay if she never gets to "dance in a big theater" because "she would never stop dancing."

Thank you NetGalley and Annick Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.