Are you looking for performing arts books for kids? This post shares popular performance arts picture books that elementary teachers often use as read alouds. All of the children’s books on this list lend themselves to this topic really well. Take a peek below to learn more about these performing arts books for kids!
4 Performing Arts Books for Kids
Below is a list of some of our favorite performing arts books for kids at the elementary level. Check them out below!
1. Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman is about an imaginative little girl who wants to play the role of Peter Pan in her class play. When the other students in the class say that she can’t because she is a girl and she is black, Grace is determined to show that she can be the best Peter Pan. Amazing Grace teaches us about what can happen when you really want something and you put your mind to it.
Check out these Amazing Grace lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
2. Not Quite Snow White by Ashley Franklin
Not Quite Snow White by Ashley Franklin is about a girl name Tameika. Tameika loves to perform, and has loved every role she’s had. When she finds out that the school play is Snow White, Tameika can’t wait to audition and be a princess. However, Tameika overhears other students saying that she is too tall, too chubby, and too brown to be a princess.
Tameika becomes upset and starts to question whether or not she can be a princess because of her appearance. When she goes home, her parents help her get her confidence back and realize that she is just enough of everything needed to be a princess. Tameika goes back to school to audition the next day, and remembers all the good things about herself. She blows everyone away with her audition, and becomes Snow White.
Check out these Not Quite Snow White lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
3. We Will Rock Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
We Will Rock Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins is about how sometimes Penelope Rex feels like her classmates only see her as a dinosaur. They don’t see all the fun things she likes to do, like reading, drawing, playing games and making music. When Mrs. Noodleman tells the class about the upcoming talent show, Penelope realizes this is her chance to show her classmates who she really is. She wants to rock her classmates!
Although she is nervous, Penelope signs up for the talent show. She is so excited and it is all she can think about and talk about. When it is time for the dress rehearsal, Penelope starts to think about how she might not be a rockstar after all. She freezes on stage because she is so nervous! The next day, Penelope crosses her name off the talent show sign up sheet.
That night, Penelope’s father shows her all of the great things family members have accomplished. This helps Penelope see they are so much more than just dinosaurs. She decides to put her name back on the list the next day. As she makes her way over to the sign-up sheet, her classmates ask if they can be part of her band!
At the talent show, Penelope shows everyone how she is a rock star! Although her band doesn’t win, Penelope is happy she was able to show her class who she really is.
Check out these We Will Rock Our Classmates lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
4. Listening With My Heart by Gabi Garcia
Listening With My Heart by Gabi Garcia is about a girl named Esperanza who finds a heart shaped rock. She tells herself that she is going to use the heart to remind herself to listen with her heart with everything she does. Using the rock, she rescues a kitten and is friendly to Bao when he doesn’t have anyone to play with.
Esperanza is excited for the school play and is devastated when she falls down and forgets her lines. She hides backstage and discovers the rock has broken. Bao gives Esperanza a picture that says friend, and Esperanza learns that she hasn’t been a friend to herself.
Esperanza goes home and focuses on her favorite things to help herself feel better and be a friend to herself.
Check out these Listening With My Heart lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
Grab the Free Reading Resources!
In closing, we hope you found this list of performing arts books for kids helpful! They are part of our Starts With a Story collection. If you want to get more book ideas to read aloud to your elementary students, then grab this reading freebie. It includes read aloud books lists, reading logs, and reading challenges for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classroom teachers. It will have you covered for the entire school year, as well as the summer months! Grab this free elementary reading packet now!
