5 stars 🌟

*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. This doesn't affect my opinion, rating or review. Thank you to NetGalley, Charlesbridge and the authors for the ARC. Quotes are subject to change.

"Everyone belongs on the dance floor!"


Having just read and loved Felix Finds His Polish by Eric Rosswood, when I saw A Place to Dance, I thought to pick it up. I didn't know anything about Richard Lamberty before reading this book, but I am definitely quite inspired by the story.

The illustrations were gorgeous, but it also had many historical facts which would be a good learning for younger readers as well.

Overall, a great book definitely worth the read, and one that will be very comforting and spark a lot of conversations, specially among kids. Would recommend!

Publication Date: 4th August 2026

#Book 78 of 2026
#Book 14 for Pride Month June 2026- Rep: Gay, LGBT+ Author

Review written on 8th June, 2026.

DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.

How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/ was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/ was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/ was average / Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/ new favourite

Awww this was so good. A beautiful story of history changed and made .
The illustrations were really good. I'd buy this wonderful book.
It should be in all schools and libraries. A brilliant book.
I'd read a full novel of it .

A short sweet and informative read. I absolutely loved the art, it was beautiful and even though it's a children's book, I learnt a lot from it.
I learnt about the history of ballroom and did my own research. I'm appreciative that I came across this book ❤️

Not many children’s books make me cry, but my heart was full to overflowing by the end of this beautiful and bright book. Richard Lamberty and his friends helped make ballroom and other competitive dancing a more inclusive space, so younger generations now have more opportunities to dance and dance with whom ever they want. As someone planning to be a parent soon, this is the kind of book I want share with my own children.

I liked that there was the main story, and then a brief but more detailed history and a letter directly from Lamberty. There’s also some great resources listed at the end for further reading.

Thanks NetGalley for the free digital copy. Opinions are my own.

Dance has always intrigued me. But as an awkward closeted person who struggled with gender norms and grew up poor I never got into the sport. I've always enjoyed watching it though so I was excited to have the opportunity to read this book.

A Place to Dance shares the true story of Richard Lamberty and how he helped make ballroom dancing more inclusive to all genders.

The story is told well and in an engaging manner. Coupled with the colorful and somehow very flowy illustrations that add to the graceful elegance of ballroom this book is just gorgeous. I also loved that the illustrations included depictions of some of his unique costumes.

I loved that the story was shared further for the caregivers in the back. Offering details and more information, including resources, about same gender dancing that they can share if the child shows further interest in the topic of dancing.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This story of Richard Lamberty's pioneering efforts in dance calls to mind the words of another trailblazer, the great Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, who said: if they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair." Richard Lamberty did not wait for his seat at the table -- or better yet, his place on the dance floor -- he created the space where he could be himself and empower others to do the same, while doing something they loved to do. I absolutely adored this essential picture book, which arrives at a perfect time in this world, where all people -- big humans and little humans alike -- need to be reminded of the ways making space for authenticity and joy in our life gives space for others to do the same in theirs. I had never heard of Richard Lamberty before this book, and as someone who took a course in ballroom dance in college, and who paid attention to it and competitive dance from time to time, that is a real gap in my knowledge that would have made a world of difference to me as a young queer person. Thankfully, authors Eric Rosswood and Richard Lamberty, and illustrator Vincent Chen, have given us a picture book biography told in powerful prose and image, a big leap in ensuring that this story is made more widely known to all readers of history, biography, and the performing arts.

The way Rosswood and Lamberty introduce the threads of joy through aunthenticity early on as a lesson in young Richard's life, and follow that as a principle he holds onto that galvanizes him into creating change that is impactful also to others, was well executed. The author's note was wonderful for giving even more context than could be included in the book, further demonstrating Lamberty's historymaking efforts and also the work of others with whom he created community and a place they could enjoy dance on their own terms. The illustrations match the whimsy of the story and dance itself, and use color and line in ways that, even when the book deals with the more emotionally upsetting/challenging parts of Lamberty's experience with bigotry along the lines of gender and sexuality, Chen's work gives levity to be able to engage it still. I especially loved the ending pages that showed dancers in clothing presenting a range of gender identity and expressions, showing how the shifts in dance led also to other barriers being broken around self-presentation in dance as well. The archival images of Lamberty in competition were a wonderful touch, as was his direct essay/comment to the reader at the end.

A terrific book that will be immediately added to my collection and among the books I will share with students and families for years to come.

A Place to Dance is a bright and hopeful picture book about a dancer making his own place in the world, when the one he needed didn't exist yet. While ballroom dancing can't be seen as a super kid-friendly topic, the book starts with Richard as a child and brings his experiences to a level young children can understand. While I'm not sure kids will be captivated by the establishment of dance competitions, they will understand finding or creating a place that is welcoming and includes everyone. The illustrations stand out in this volume. While fairly simple, they feel joyful and luminous when depicting Richard and his friends dancing and enjoying themselves.

I received a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The cover of this one drew me in, and I wasn’t familiar with Richard Lamberty. I also love a good picture book biography!

Richard had a talent for dancing from a young age, but because he was a boy, he could only dance the “boring” parts of ballroom combinations (I’ve never really thought about it before, but it’s true - the girls really get to both have all the fun AND do all of the work when it comes to most ballroom-style dances!). Thanks to Richard and his friends creating a dance competition where folks can dance with whoever they want, rules are finally changing in the ballroom dance world.

The book is your standard simplified biography, showing Richad as he grew up and learned how to dance, and ultimately started his own ballroom competition. The book also includes a short biography and a note from Richard himself, which adds a little extra context.

Me: "I'm really stingy with my five star ratings."

Also me: "And YOU get five stars!!! And YOU! And also YOU!"

It probably helped that I read this in the middle of reading Hida Viloria's memoir about discovering the intersex community. While "A Place to Dance" doesn't overly challenge the overall idea of gender, it still challenges gender norms. And while this book is, on one level, about oppression, it's also above movement and joy and loving something so much that you find a way to keep doing it. I knew literally nothing about Richard Lamberty before reading this, and as one does, I immediately looked up the April Follies and watched a little documentary. Was I sobbing? Yes, I was.

This being a picture book, the narrative is simplified and condensed so that young readers can follow it. Vincent Chen (of "Hot Pot Night!" which is also great) brings color and motion and striking diversity to the accompanying images. It's such a small detail, but there's one panel with the April Follies that includes a competitor in a wheelchair. I won't get into why that was so important to see, but it was, and I loved it.

I think a lot about community organizing, usually around "more important" things. (Big scare quotes there, because this event is so significant to so many people.) It was great to see a book for young people that showed real people bringing joy to the work, and how that work is ultimately changing things in the wider world. Especially meaningful at a time when we're backsliding on so many human and civil rights fronts.

So, five stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

joyful, inspiring celebration of courage and change

A Place to Dance: How Richard Lamberty Brought Change to the Ballroom by Eric Rosswood and Richard Lamberty is a truly uplifting and beautifully told story that deserves every one of its five stars. This picture book goes far beyond dance—it’s about identity, courage, and the power of challenging traditions.

The book follows Richard Lamberty’s journey as a young dancer who loved ballroom but felt constrained by rigid gender roles. His determination to dance both lead and follow ultimately helped reshape the ballroom world, opening doors for same-gender partners and greater inclusivity. What makes this book so special is how accessible and engaging it is. The writing is clear and heartfelt, making complex themes like gender expectations and self-expression easy for younger readers to understand, while still resonating with adults. The story never feels heavy-handed—instead, it celebrates joy, passion, and authenticity.

The illustrations (by Vincent Chen) are vibrant and expressive, perfectly capturing the movement and emotion of dance while keeping the focus on the people and their stories. They bring warmth and energy to every page, making it a delight to read aloud or explore visually.

Most importantly, this book sends a powerful message: there is no one “right” way to be yourself. Whether you’re a dancer or not, it encourages readers to embrace what they love and challenge limitations placed on them by others.

Heartwarming, empowering, and inspiring, A Place to Dance is a must-read for anyone who believes in inclusion, creativity, and following your passion.

Thank you so much to Charlesbridge and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Wow this was very powerful, beautiful, informative and incredible. I loved this story sharing about same-sex partnered dancing and the wonderful humans that created a safe and inclusive place for everyone to dance, with who ever they choose.

I loved learning all about Richard Lamberty and his love of dancing, how that passion and love he had right from a young child gave him a great opportunity to teach and learn more skills along the way. He then went on to go after his dreams of dancing the traditionally female parts with a partner and creating something wonderful for so many people around the world.

I loved the illustrations, they were beautiful seeing everyone dancing, the beautiful costumes they were all wearing, I especially loved his bright Orange outfit at the end. I liked seeing so much inclusivity throughout the book too which was nice to see. This is a great book for those young readers that love dancing and it’s also just a wonderful sweet read that I recommend.

Dance with who you want to. This beautifully illustrated story of Richard Lamerty’s love to dance and wanting to dance the female’s the steps in ballroom dancing is a joyous read. I look forward to reading it to my classroom.


Thank you to NetGalley and Charlesbridge.

I love the themes of inclusion and celebrating what makes you happy. The illustrations were bright and colorful, and at least in some cases caught the feeling of the different dances. I would have liked to see more detail in the pictures, everything was a bit flat/vector illustration for me. I read this as an adult who does partner dancing, so the topic is really interesting to me. I'm not sure it would have the same appeal for kids who aren't dancers--it felt a little too "biography" for the target age group, without being the kind of detailed biography you could use for a school project. Fills an interesting niche in dance and LGBTQ+ books. Good for a larger public library, would likely struggle to find an audience in a smaller library.

What a joy it was to read this book! It is one of my goals to constantly learn more about 2SLGBT+ history, especially in sports. This book details the life of Richard Lamberty and how his joy for dance and drive for equality changed ballroom dancing.

This book is ideal for children aged 6 to 8, but can definitely be enjoyed by others beyond this range! The themes and topics were well-suited to this age, as this age is just beginning to expand their worldview. I can see 6-8 year olds being able to read this book solely, as the vocabulary is within their grasp. Each page had the right amount of words and bright, attention-grabbing pictures.

Richard’s story is thought provoking. “Who made the rules?” he asks at one point, and I think this should be bolder and stamped all over this book! Questioning the status quo is such an important skill for children to learn, and it’s one us as adults still need to hone. We shouldn’t just accept things because that’s the way they are, we should question them, because this is where growth and betterment comes from. The exploration of this concept is what makes this book special, and makes it a must-read for all.

Thank you to NetGalley and Charlesbridge for granting me access to an e-ARC of “A Place to Dance: How Richard Lamberty Brought Change to the Ballroom” by Eric Rosswood and Richard Lamberty in exchange for an honest review.

This was so fun! I loved the illustrations and I am so excited to bring this into my classroom throughout my dance unit, my art (illustration) unit and feature during pride. I had never put much thought towards queer culture in dance and this really illuminated the history I have been missing!

I absolutely adored learning about this history of queer ballroom dance and I know that this book will sashay its way into so many kid’s hearts and remind them that they are perfect.