Daria Peoples-Riley’s debut picture book is a celebration of individuality, self-expression, and dance. Fans of Misty Copeland’s Firebird and Matt de la Peña’s Last Stop on Market Street will want to read it over and over again.
When a young dancer is nervous about her upcoming auditions, her shadow springs to life and leads her on a joyous exploration of their city. Soon enough, the young girl finds confidence in her skills, her body, and her ability to shine.
With an energetic, rhythmic text that begs to be read aloud and striking, exuberant artwork, This Is It is a love story to originality and the simple joy of movement.
The future is in your footsteps.
Freedom is in your feet.
Put one foot in front of the other,
and greet your destiny.
During the course of her education, Daria Peoples-Riley seldom felt loved as a student of color. Over the years, she got tired of waiting for things to change and decided to do something about it. She hopes her books will bring schools and families together to create action plans, repair harm, and prevent race-based trauma from ever happening again.
Daria Peoples-Riley is the author and illustrator of the picture books This Is It
and I Got Next, and the illustrator of Gloria Takes a Stand, by Jessica M. Rinker. She lives with her family in Las Vegas, Nevada. www.dariapeoples.com
During the course of her education, Daria Peoples-Riley seldom felt loved as a student of color. Over the years, she got tired of waiting for things to change and decided to do something about it. She hopes her books will bring schools and families together to create action plans, repair harm, and prevent race-based trauma from ever happening again.
Daria Peoples-Riley is the author and illustrator of the picture books This Is It
and I Got Next, and the illustrator of Gloria Takes a Stand, by Jessica M. Rinker. She lives with her family in Las Vegas, Nevada. www.dariapeoples.com