These Boots Are Made for Dancin': Every Cowgirl Needs Dancing Boots by Rebecca Janni

EVERY COWGIRL NEEDS DANCIN' BOOTS, AND I HAVE A BRAND-NEW PAIR.

BUT YOU CAN'T GO DANCIN' ALL ALONE.

MAMA SAYS, "HOW ABOUT MAKING FRIENDS WITH THOSE NEW GIRLS ACROSS THE STREET?"

"THE GLITTER GIRLS?" I ASK.

It's complicated being a cowgirl in her suburban neighborhood, but Nellie climbs into the saddle of her trusty pink two-wheeled bronco and rides off, not into the sunset, but in search of potential hoedown partners. The Glitter Girls like dancing all right. But it's the wrong kind of dancing. Instead of pink cowgirl boots and Stetsons, they go for tutus and ballet slippers. Instead of do-si-dos, they choose a demi-plie.

Nellie needs a way to find common ground. So she takes the bull by the horns. She hangs out her shingle:

FIRST ANNUAL BARNYARD BASH!
Y'ALL COME! DANCE TONIGHT!

But the Glitter Girls give her invitation a supercilious look.

"BALLERINAS DON'T BELONG IN BARNS," SAID AN OLDER SISTER. "BUT WE'LL THINK ABOUT IT."

MY BRAIDS WERE DROOPIN.'

But Nellie Sue screws up her cowgirl courage and spunkily prepares for a bash which she fears may be a bust. She drags in hay bales, hangs up lanterns, pops lots of popcorn. stirs up pink lemonade, and dudes herself up in hopes that someone will come to her party in Rebecca Janni's cute little cowgirl tale, Every Cowgirl Needs Dancing Boots (Dutton, 2011), and with the artistic assistance of noted illustrator Lynn Avril, the garage is rockin' as the sissonnes and sashays come together in a dancin' good time. Janni's text offers a nice twist on a "new kids on the block" story, with a spunky heroine who dances to a different drummer but shares her pink polka-dotted boots with Anna and finds herself a new best friend to boot