Drumbeat in Our Feet

Review
By Picture Books and Pirouettes

Drumbeat in Our Feet contains plenty of nonfiction material, including information on the origins of African dance, the different types of African dances, the role of spirits and ancestors, costumes, and of course African drums.

What I really like about this book is that the left-hand side of each full-page spread includes the nonfiction information, while the right-hand side contains a more lyrical interpretation of the material. I also love Keeler’s illustrations, which are full of both rich earthy colors and more vibrant colors, especially on the costumes of the dancers, who are all children.