Cesaria Feels the Beat

A Deaf child performer self-advocates in this triumphant Carnival-set work from Rosario Adusei and Soares. Practicing en route to joining her dance team for the Carnival celebration, young performer Cesaria “twirls barefoot on the grass, sand, and dirt.” Upon arrival, she dresses in her peacock costume, sans shoes—all the better to feel the music’s beat. Lip-reading the show director’s request that she don the costume’s footwear, Cesaria signs back, “No shoes... peacocks don’t wear shoes.” But she’s required to put on shoes to perform, and Cesaria acquiesces to support her team, even though “there’s no tempo to tickle her toes.” As the performance begins, though, she makes a choice that feels right—and quite literally kicks off a cascading effect. Paper, pencil, and digital illustrations employ saturated jewel tones to convey Carnival’s hues as well as Cesaria’s moves. Characters are portrayed with brown skin. Creators’ notes detail the author’s and illustrator’s connections to the subject matter. Ages 3–6. (June)