PPBF – Free to be Fabulous!

I’m happy I’m reviewing a recently published Perfect Picture Book today that will have everyone on their feet and dancing.

Title: Free to be Fabulous!

Written By: David McMullin

Illustrated By: Robbie Cathro

Publisher/Date: Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers/2024

Suitable for Ages: 4-8

Themes/Topics: dance, overcoming doubts, joy, self-expression, bullying

Opening:

Daniel flipped for everything Fabulina!

Brief Synopsis: Daniel loves dancing to his favorite pop star’s music, and he wins the school talent show dancing. But when he encounters mean comments afterwards, his joy disappears.  

Links to Resources:

• Learn to dance;
• Discover tips to help your child deal with bullying.

Why I Like this Book:

From the moment I read the title and saw the cover, I knew I had to read and review Free to be Fabulous! I love Cathro’s retro color palette and movement-filled illustrations – they exude passion and, for much of the story, joy. And I love that the main character, Daniel, lives to dance like his idol, Fabulina. Complete with leg warmers (a “must” for serious, young dancers, as any parent or dance instructor knows), Daniel practices his dancing until he wins the school talent show. Joy leaps from the page until…

Anyone who regularly reads picture books knows that the joy has to end, an obstacle has to appear. Cue the arrival of The Mean. “Mean looks. Mean words. Mean jokes. Mean names.” Illustrated in vivid reds and purples, The Mean leap from the page and overwhelm poor Daniel. Of course the story doesn’t end there – Daniel resumes dancing and, I won’t spoil the ending, but it does involve daring and dazzling moves.

Whether your child is passionate about the arts, nature, sports or something else, I think you’ll find Free to be Fabulous! an empowering story to read and reread.

A Note about Craft:

By not naming the bullies or indicating why they harass Daniel, McMullin encourages readers to keep our focus on Daniel, to empathize with him.

I love the alliteration of the title, the equating of fabulous with freedom, and the switch, towards the end, to references to daring and dazzling.

McMullin presents a young, male dancer who adores the dance moves of an older, female performer who, from Cathro’s illustrations, could be a drag queen. I love that this is left vague, and that the book could prompt discussions of gender stereotypes.

This Perfect Picture Book entry is being added to Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book list. Check out the other great picture books featured there!