Caezaah Wiggington never had it easy. He is unable to express himself verbally. Labeled as slow or stupid, sometimes both, growing up he made an easy target for those too quick to judge. Now in his early twenties, Caezaah works as a late night dishwasher and shares a one room apartment with a family of mice. Despite past events and current circumstances, Caezaah believes that everyone gets his day. He prepares for his. He envisions that when his day comes, he will rise from the lowly ruins to high respect because of his gift. Caezaah's gift is dancing. And, his day has arrived. Although his plans and preparations are repeatedly disrupted, he continues to dance toward his destiny. Against overwhelming evidence to the contrary and a series of obstacles, Caezaah is certain that by nightfall he will no longer be known as Wiggy or Babble Boy, but as the Fancy Dancer, Mister Fancy Dancer. Author's note: After brainstorming with more than 30 eager and enthused fifth graders (and one third grader) at Whittier Family School in Camden, I channeled their dreams and insights into this story, our story. I returned to Whittier for a wonderfully received reading and stimulating discussion. I heard many insightful comments. The wisest of all may have come from a student who had just joined the class and was not part of the session that gave birth to the plot and characters. When I asked for ideas on how to deal with bullies, detractors, and adults who mislabel you and write you off, this young man responded with one word, "SUCCEED." Ironically, when I started reading the book to the class this young man immediately put his head down on his desk. I found it kind of disturbing that he so quickly chose to tune me out. I instinctively labeled him as disrespectful, indifferent, arrogant or unable to comprehend at this level. Then with one word - "SUCCEED" - he taught me that he who leaps to label others does so at his own peril. I hope when you read Mister Fancy Dancer, you will receive the lesson that not everyone develops according to plan. I also hope, that like Caezaah, you will be inspired to SUCCEED when the odds are stacked up against you.
About the Author: Combining a long career writing speeches and video scripts for major corporations with volunteering in elementary schools, Hochman has taken the full plunge into writing for kids and WITH KIDS. In the past year he published laZy, craZy & amaZing then followed it with an illustrated version with adorable and imaginative pictures drawn by elementary school students. He awarded 15 student artists with special recognition at school assemblies. Next came Mr. Hocklenutty's Magic Glasses, dreamed up with first graders then illustrated and narrated with an extremely talented group of 4th graders. WATER Comes came in response to a challenge by the director of BookMates, an amazing organization of volunteer readers in Southern New Jersey, to tackle bullying and peer pressure in a nonviolent way. Mister Fancy Dancer is his first foray into collaborating fully with older elementary school students. After reading his Z book to the fifth graders at Whittier Family School, then returning to recognize to winning illustrators in the Z-Illustration contest, Hochman found a spark. He asked them if they wanted to do some brainstorming. Boy did they. Before they knew it they had a story, a novel way to create relevant illustrations, and, ultimately, a book. Beyond reading and writing with kids, Hochman provides a very entertaining school assembly that encourages kids to tap their creativity, voice their opinion and share some brilliant insights not just about the stories, but about life. See this article to get a better sense: http: //www.jewishvoicesnj.org/news/2013-03-06/Local_News/Inspired_by_reading_to_kids_BookMate_becomes_publi.html