Unicorns and Horses and Snakes, oh my!
Princess Naomi Helps a Unicorn is a 2021 Mom's Choice Gold Award Recipient.
Interactive movement wrapped up in a charming story of sibling angst, anger management, compassion, and triumph.
Grown-ups sit; kiddos move and practice dance fundamentals.
Fed up with her annoying sister, Naomi storms out of the castle, only to discover a unicorn in need of help. With a sense of purpose, she quickly forgets her anger.
Ballerina Konora is featured on each page as optional movement guide for kids who want to get up and dance.
“
Cheerful and heartwarming, this movement adventure will inspire creative expression through imagination. As readers replicate the actions in the story, they will gain a greater understanding of human emotions and how to express them through both words and actions.”
-Mary Lanni, Librarian/ReviewerMovement, technique, and dance concepts in this story include:
- chassé forward
- chassé sideways
- leaps (grand jetés)
- rond de jambe
- leg lifts
- cobra (back stretch)
- twisting
- muscle activation – on/off muscles
- moving with emotion
- concept of open/closed
- concept of powerful movement
- concept of low/medium/high
Major themes include sibling friendship, managing emotions, empathy, forgiveness, and helping.
The books can be used as a supplement for dance or theater studio classes or camps. Princess Naomi Helps a Unicorn would be pair well with themes such as dance, unicorns, princess tales, horses, mythical animals, flowers, and castles.
The Dance-It-Out! movement journeys are ideal for dance, pre-ballet, creative movement, preschool, daycare, early learning, physical education, homeschool, kindergarten, or first-grade activities. The full collection features male, female, and nonbinary diverse characters. Books make a great gift for boys or girls interested in dance, ballet, gymnastics, or yoga, or reluctant readers who enjoy getting up and moving.
With kind characters, subtle life lessons, and a positive role model in Ballerina Konora, teachers love the kid-approved, ready-made, easy additions to curriculum and lesson planning. Children at home adore the stories that “young readers will return to again and again” (—Reedsy).
About the Author
Konora is an apprentice with Ballet Idaho and previously danced with Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Professional Division. Growing up, she danced iconic roles such as Sugar Plum Fairy and Cinderella.
Konora’s mother taught creative movement and ballet for decades and was recognized by her local City Council (2014) for embodying the spirit of partnership and commitment to children in our community for her work with young dancers. She’s breathed dance from every angle: child to pre-professional to adult ballet student, zoom student, dance teacher, dance mom, competition mom, ballet-school parent-guilder, audience member, recital planner, business owner, and board member.
Once Upon a Dance has many 2021 awards and endorsements, including a PenCraft Award First Place Winner, Mom’s Choice Gold Award Recipient, Independent Press Award Winner, B.R.A.G. Medallion Award, International Impact Book Award Winner, Readers Favorite Certified Great Read, Love Reading 4 Kids Indie Books We Love, and Indie’s Today 5-Star Recommended. Their 18 books include books for readers three-eleven as well as teacher resources.
