Review: TAP DANCING ON THE ROOF by Linda Sue Park

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Park, Linda Sue. 2007. Tap Dancing on the Roof: Sijo (Poems). Ill. by Istvan Banyai. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0618234837.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Tap Dancing on the Roof is a concise collection of poems written in the Korean form of sijo. The topics range from school subjects to holidays to nature. Park also includes background information and tips for writing sijo poems.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This delightful collection of sijo poetry is sure to interest readers of any age. There are subjects which are associated with childhood such as dealing with peer criticisms in “Art Class” or reading under the covers in “Bedtime Snacks” but also those which are more universal in theme such as bird watching in “From the Window” or the changing seasons in “Overnight” and “Important Announcement.” The randomness of the subjects does not detract from the overall effect of the book, in fact, it adds to the universal appeal. Park creates an experience which can be shared by a varied audience.

The quirky illustrations by Banyai add to the overall appeal of the book. He has a talent for capturing the essence of each poem and illustrating it in such an intelligently creative way. Each picture has whimsical details that could be easily missed if one does not take the time to enjoy them.

Although the poems and illustrations themselves are not created to educate the reader on the traditions and culture of Korea, the poetic form itself is Korean. The beginning “About Sijo” and ending author’s note provide the reader with some insight into the Korean culture and how sijo fits into that culture.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
CHILDREN’S LITERATURE review: “Park meets the challenge of the traditional Korean poetic form of sijo in more than two dozen carefully and cleverly fashioned verses. For those tired of haiku, these are a real treat… The line drawings that accompany each sijo have touches of color but their charm is in the depicted action with no settings needed.”

SHEN’S BOOKS review: “… the poems are charming, and the twist at the end of each one makes them great fun to read. Of course, Istvan Banyai's illustrations are always wonderful in that quirky way, and their simplicity fits the style of the poems perfectly.”

5. CONNECTIONS
As with most poetry books, this is a great read aloud which appeals to a wide range of audiences. I was amazed when my sixteen year-old read it to my four year-old and they both really enjoyed it. It’s not very often I find a book that they both want to read over and over.

After being introduced to the sijo poems, students should use the tips at the end of the book to help them try their hand at writing them. Because it is short and structured, students will embrace the opportunity especially if they are encouraged to also illustrate their creation.