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John's Turn
E. B. White Read-Aloud winner Mac Barnett celebrates individuality in a story told with tenderness and subtlety.
It’s John’s big day at school today—a performance for Sharing Gifts time. His bag is carefully packed and prepared, his classmates are ready, and the curtain is waiting to open. John is nervous, looking out at all the other children staring back at him. But he takes a big breath and begins. Mac Barnett’s compassionate text and Kate Berube’s understated and expressive art tell the story of a kid who finds the courage to show others his talent for dancing.
It’s John’s big day at school today—a performance for Sharing Gifts time. His bag is carefully packed and prepared, his classmates are ready, and the curtain is waiting to open. John is nervous, looking out at all the other children staring back at him. But he takes a big breath and begins. Mac Barnett’s compassionate text and Kate Berube’s understated and expressive art tell the story of a kid who finds the courage to show others his talent for dancing.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published March 1, 2022
3 people are currently reading
447 people want to read
About the author
Mac Barnett
80Ìýbooks1,276ÌýfollowersBorn to non-farmers in a California farming community, Mac Barnett now lives near San Francisco. He's on the board of directors of 826LA, a nonprofit writing center for students in Los Angeles, and he founded the Echo Park Time Travel Mart, a convenience store for time travelers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews
July 7, 2022
On most Fridays, the students at John's school share whatever talent they have in a talent-show type presentation called "Sharing Gifts." John is a ballet dancer who decides to perform a dance on one Friday. I'm so glad to see this cute book from Mac Barnett. The story is very simple and short, but the message is obvious that gender should never dictate one's hobbies (or jobs). The positive response from John's schoolmates shows readers how happy and healthy a world without gender essentialism would be. Let's get there. I hope this inspires more boys who love ballet to proudly embrace that interest.
March 31, 2022
My heart grew three sizes while reading this book. :)
Every Friday, someone gets up and performs in front of the whole school. And today is John’s turn to share and shine. What will John do? Play an instrument? Sing a song? No. John is going to dance!
My smile grew bigger and brighter with each turn of the page. John turned, leaped, floated, and danced and danced. In front of everyone! It takes huge courage to share pieces of yourself. And John did it! He worked through his nerves and stepped out on the stage and danced. He made me smile. He made me proud.
I love, love, loved the art here. The dancing pages were full of movement, grace, confidence, and that smile! All of it was on display. John’s smile is so contagious. You won’t be able to help it! John’s story is freeing, inspiring, and smile-inducing.
Highly recommended.
March 27, 2022
Marvelous, riveting storytelling voice in the words and pictures.
May 2, 2022
I liked the illustrations but I wish there had been more to the story.
May 19, 2022
One review I saw said they were disappointed that the message of this book wasn't spelled out, but I actually kind of loved that about it. It's matter of fact. When someone performs, the audience claps! I love the subtlety of showing John as nervous during the day and before his performance, but the art really shows the transformation while he's dancing - he starts to relax and becomes absolutely joyful. Lovely.
April 7, 2022
John’s Turn was a quiet book telling of a young boy sharing his talent with his classmates. It was a wonderful nod to being brave and being willing to share talents that are not considered the norm for a boy. I liked “reading� John’s emotions from the looks on his face.
August 15, 2022
Wonderful illustrations! I love the way we see how dance brings John such happiness. We see his nervousness as he begins to perform in front of his class, then, as he moves through the steps, his building confidence -- and, more than that, simply becoming the dance, lost in the movements, the utter joy of the music and movement. I also appreciate how the skeptical audience is moved to applause. It is perhaps a bit idealistic that every kid (including the ones who had been laughing at him before he started dancing) would be won over, but for this age group, I'm glad to see the positive. For me, the illustrations won me over. The text is... okay. I think it's meant to be kind of conversational kid's tone (narrated by one of John's classmates) but I found some of the choices a bit unfortunate, (such as using the word "dumb" to refer to the name of the share time performances).
January 8, 2023
John is nervous to perform in front of his peers but find acceptance as he dances with a different style to different music than his peers usually hear. I enjoy most of what Mac Burnett writes for children.
June 6, 2022
Concise text and fantastic art. John's two-page leap is captivating.
September 9, 2022
A wonderful story about sharing our talents!!
May 25, 2022
One of the things I really liked about this book is that it is being told by someone in the audience, who is watching John’s performance in front of the whole school. We see John’s nervousness through the eyes of this classmate, and get the stage fright / anxiety.
A lot of books about performances are told from the point of view of the performer, so the shift in viewpoints make this book especially interesting.
It’s also a good book for discussing feelings and empathy!
A lot of books about performances are told from the point of view of the performer, so the shift in viewpoints make this book especially interesting.
It’s also a good book for discussing feelings and empathy!
November 12, 2022
John's Turn was a simple and sweet story about how John took to the stage, even when he was nervous about what his classmates would think. My favorite part of this book was when John was dancing, and the illustrations showed him doing the different ballet turns. This book has a great message about showing your gifts/what you are passionate about, even when you are not sure what others will think.
April 10, 2022
Cute book about a boy ballet dancer who is nervous about performing for his school. However, there isn't really a story here. Why was he nervous? H clearly likes to dance and is good at it, so what was it about getting up in front of his classmates that created this stage fright in him. Is he shy? Has he been bullied? What are the problems he's trying to overcome? I wanted more from the story.
June 30, 2022
A sweet little story about a little boy named John who shares his talent with the rest of the school.
August 28, 2022
Began a lovely convo with our kindergartner about doing things that make us happy.
March 17, 2022
At the Friday Assembly in school, the children take turns each week doing a talent show of some kind for their classmates. Today it is John's turn to perform. John is obviously nervous about his performance. He has to change clothes and wait backstage until the music starts. Once he begins to dance, John forgets about his nerves and just enjoys moving to the music. But will his audience enjoy the performance?
This is such a beautiful book! I love the simple but emotional story, and the way that the reader is pulled into John's experience. The positive messages of courage and acceptance make this book really special. By the end of the book, I was cheering and clapping for John!
The soft artwork is warm and energetic. You can feel the emotions rolling off the page. When John dances, every movement is so lively and strong! I felt like I was watching him actually dance in graceful pirouettes and jetes.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
This is such a beautiful book! I love the simple but emotional story, and the way that the reader is pulled into John's experience. The positive messages of courage and acceptance make this book really special. By the end of the book, I was cheering and clapping for John!
The soft artwork is warm and energetic. You can feel the emotions rolling off the page. When John dances, every movement is so lively and strong! I felt like I was watching him actually dance in graceful pirouettes and jetes.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
November 28, 2022
I read all 5 of these recommended picture books to my almost 5-year-old grandson on Thanksgiving and he (and I) most enjoyed Monsters In The Fog (which is interestingly the lowest rated here by readers). It is built upon mistaken appearances and teaches a nice lesson. The Three Billy Goats Gruff came in second with us. Its artwork is striking, unusual, and its scale is part of the story. I liked the word play of Knight Owl (and the dark colors and dragon). I think in another setting at another time Everywhere With You might have been more meaningful and it too was colorful and more sweepingly illustrated. The last book, John’s Turn, is probably intended for a slightly older child who is familiar with the school setting.
March 22, 2022
On Friday afternoon, this school has an assembly where announcements are made, sometimes a song is sung, and when there's time, a student does something for the group, tells some jokes, does some magic, and so on. This particular Friday, it's John's turn. He's nervous, but brings his special clothes, prepares, and dances. Mac Barnett tells all there is to know, lets the children's faces and John's by Kate Berube tell the rest. It's a wonderful book about courage and support. Wait until you see the double-page spread with John dancing!
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy.
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy.
March 11, 2025
I like how this book first highlight other kids who performed things at school, but when it gets to John’s turn to perform, he does something that is not usually seen as normal or socially acceptable for guys to perform or participate in. He dances and in ballet form, but in the pictures he dance and jumps and lands perfectly. I like how in the end it says then it was our turn, because this can be a good book to read when introducing creative drama or dancing to a class. I think a good activity also to improve collaboration and cooperation between students would be to have students create a small dance to music to perform to other students.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2022
This is a simple book about a grade school assembly where each week a different child has an opportunity to perform. Today it's John, who will change into his ballet clothes and awe his classmates with his jumps, twirls, and graceful performance. John is nervous, perhaps worried that the children will make fun of his unusual choice. A nice choice for storytime about how people have different interests.
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October 17, 2022This book is about a boy named John who performed for his school's "sharing gifts" assembly every morning. He was nervous but still danced through his nervousness. He started enjoying himself and starting smiling and becoming more confident, and at the end, all the students clapped. I could read this when the classroom has our own "talent day".
May 10, 2022
I appreciate it when authors write books about a variety of different children doing a variety of different activities. This book highlights a boy who has been chosen to share a talent at his school's weekly assembly. He's really nervous and the behavior of the children before his performance leaves the reader wondering how they will react to John's performance. Told from the perspective on an anonymous classmate, readers see John's amazing ballet skills as he does a variety of different moves (hooray for the illustrator, these pages can't have been easy to create). After he finishes, he bows, and awaits his classmates reaction. I found myself almost holding my breathe for a moment after reading this spread. I released that breathe with a happy sigh as the children stand and applaud enthusiastically. John is left with a big smile on his face. Would that all children were so supportive and kind. This is definitely a feel good book and both the writing and illustrating are outstanding. A great book to pair with this one is When Langston Dances by Kaija Langley.
June 27, 2022
Each Friday there is an assembly and one student can get up in front of the school to perform. One student did a magic show. Another played the tuba. Another told jokes. Today is John's turn. And he is going to dance. And wow, can he dance!
March 20, 2025
6yo said: I thought only girls did ballet.
...already changing minds.
...already changing minds.
March 25, 2022
He danced!
Wonderful illustrations.
Wonderful illustrations.
April 18, 2022
Yes! A book that is absolutely needed. Share today!
January 1, 2022
A very understated story about a boy who chooses to perform at a school assembly called Sharing Gifts. He chooses to share a ballet performance despite being very nervous. With some writers, there would be a lot of dialogue about how the performer is brave, or overcoming his fears, but this is Mac Barnett. I have heard a few talks he has given online in which he discusses trusting kids to get the lesson without overdoing it with repetition. I was reminded of that with the style of this book. I read an e-ARC from Edelweiss, and the book is scheduled to hit bookstores on March 1, 2022.
March 15, 2022
Every Friday, an unknown student narrator explains, at assembly after announcements are read, it is a student's turn to do something for the whole school to enjoy. It's called Sharing Gifts and some kids sing, play instruments, or just tell jokes. Today, it is John's turn and he seems quite nervous as he changes his clothes backstage. When the curtain opens, John is standing there in his leotard, dance pants and ballet slippers. The kids looks somewhat bored when the music starts to play, and John begins to dance. And as he dances, his nervous apprehension begins to dissolve, replaced by happiness and getting lost in his dance. John's happiness is infectious and when he finishes, everyone is smiling and clapping for him. I love seeing books about boys who dance, there are so few of them, and this one is done to perfection, in part because of the text which is supported and extended by the soft ink and watercolor illustrations that really capture all of John's emotions.
May 12, 2022
Every Friday, John and his classmates participate in a 'sharing gifts' (talent) for the entire school. John is quiet and pensive until he is able to take his turn in the spotlight with a very heartwarming result.
June 30, 2022
I really expected a lot more from Mac Barnett.
John is nervous before he shares his ballet dancing with his school.
John is nervous before he shares his ballet dancing with his school.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews
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