Böcker av Karen Diaz Ensanian

I Can Make a Water Dance is the first in a planned series of children's dance and science discovery books, that connects dance with processes in nature. Dancers magically rise out of the mist, curl like splashes in the river, and sail as trailing clouds. The embodiment of natural phenomena allows the dancers to learn about the water cycle in a unique way, learn something about their own bodies, and stimulates creative thinking. The book is presented in two-page spreads. The left side contains text that describes the stage of the water cycle, poetry that vividly portrays the action that is taking place, and a question that invites the readers to think of additional ways that movement can be found in that phase of water. The dynamic movement words invite young listeners to transform themselves into water and extend their vocabulary, helping develop literacy. On the right side of the spread is a lush painting demonstrating how that stage of water moves. Superimposed dancer photos on the paintings are presented as part of the action. Creating a dance about water immediately becomes understandable. There are fifteen paintings that include Mist, Clouds, Storm Cloud, Rain, Puddle, Rainbow, Snow, Ice, Stream, River, Waterfall, Lake, Geyser, Ocean, and Water Cycle. Near the end of the book is a two-page spread of all the dancers with accompanying action words, inviting children to create their own dance. The final page includes tips for parents and teachers.

The Dancing Light is the second in a series of books by dance educator Karen Diaz Ensanian, created to facilitate dance making with young children. The book exposes them to beautiful visual art, view photos of young dancers demonstrating science concepts through their movement, and hear poetic verse and action words that help them illustrate the nature of LIGHT. By embodying this information, the student makes deep connections in their body, mind, to the world, and to the nature of light. This is an opportunity to learn by way of movement. Internalizing the information and imagery, students will gain a greater understanding of light and possibilities for creativity. Throughout the book there are questions that provide opportunities for children to find their own unique ways of moving. The journey of the book follows the path of light: light found in nature, light that is man-made, the way light moves through reflection and refraction, its importance for plant life, and finally what happens when light is blocked. Each of the thirteen original paintings by the author combined with the photos of dancers can also be used as a tool for creating dance lessons in the classroom that enrich the study of LIGHT. Paintings set the stage for the creation of dances with different light concepts such as sunlight, bioluminescence, shadows, electricity, lightning, reflection, refraction, and more. 'Tips for Parents and Teachers' in the back of the book offer a simple set of suggestions for structuring a dance. Everyone can find inspiration in the dance of light.The author's first book, I Can Make a Water Dance, uses a similar format to connect the water cycle with dance. It is successfully being used by Pre-K -5 to enrich the study of the water cycle.

The Dancing Light-children's dance book about the science of light with beautifully painted landscapes, action words, dancers.

I Can Make a Water Dance is a beautiful journey of art, poetry and science that takes children through the water cycle to create dance to encourage a better understanding of nature.