Nancy Garhan Attebury (Children's Literature)
Once again the Dillons have successfully combined text with their unique colorful illustrations to create an exciting visual package in this book that aptly describes the life of legendary tap dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, while also managing to highlight his dancing ways. The simple one line per page format kicks off and continues throughout the book. Sing-song rhyming lines and the repetitive phrase "rap a tap tap--think of that" alternate with each other to produce an appealing page-turner geared to the young set. A shadowy illusion technique gives Mr. Bojangles the appearance of actually toe-tapping his feet. Mr. Bojangles threads his way through bright cityscapes where people are engaged in a variety of daily activities. By absorbing the book from cover to cover the reader learns that the dancer entertained all kinds of people with whom he had contact and that his talent was viewed as a work of art. Add this book to any library or home shelf to increase awareness of a wonderful real life entertainer. 2002, The Blue Sky Press/Scholastic, $15.95. Ages 4 to 8.

CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 2003)
A tribute to the great tap dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson skillfully uses repetition and toe-tapping rhythm to involve young listeners in the narrative. Each simple, staccato line of text reveals something about Robinson, who danced for rich and poor, Black and white, at a time when an African American entertainer faced many restrictions. The author/artists artfully capture energetic movement in the illustrations, while phrasing the words so that the social issues referenced make sense on both a literal and a metaphorical level (e.g, "He danced past doors; some were open, some closed."). "Rap a tap tap-think of that!" CCBC categories: Picture Books For Older Children; Picture Books For Younger Children; The Arts; Historical People, Places, And Events. 2002, Blue Sky Press / Scholastic, 32 pages, $15.95. Ages 4-7.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, August 1, 2002 (Vol. 70, No. 15))
A tribute to Bill "Bojangles" Robinson captures the rhythm of the famous tap dancing he did all over the city: in the street, behind doors that were both open and closed to him, in crowds, in upscale neighborhoods as well as "the skids," in the park, and ultimately, on stage. Watercolor illustrations in sophisticated shades of tan, plum, aqua, mustard, olive, rust, black, and gray recall the pre-WWII era in which Robinson lived and danced. The stylized figures, shown mostly in profile without detailed features, are reminiscent of Synthia Saint James's work and stand out cleanly against a bright white background. The contagious, joyful exhilaration of Bojangles's dance is conveyed through shadowy legs surrounding his real ones, as if the rapt onlookers' eyes could not keep up with his frenetic movement, as well as the rhyming text that begs to be read aloud and repeated. A note at the end explains who Bojangles was and includes fascinating information about his life and his talent, including the fact that no other dancer was ever able to repeat some of his more intricate steps. Spectacular, clear design includes spot varnish on the cover, highlighting the colorful type and figures against a matte white. This jazzy introduction to an important contributor to American culture will entrance the youngest music and dance fans. 2002, Blue Sky/Scholastic, $15.95. Category: Picture book. Ages 3 to 7. Starred Review. © 2002 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Vicki Arkoff (Midwest Book Review, "Vicki's Bookshelf" column, November 2002)
To read aloud this rhythmic picture book for pre-schoolers is to practically hear legendary dancer Bill Robinson -- aka Mr. Bojangles -- himself. The spare rhyming words literally "tap tap tap" across the pages in toe-tapping verse, one line at a time. "There once was a man who danced in the street. Rap a a tap tap -- think of that! He brought pleasure and joy to the people he'd greet. Rap a tap tap -- think of that!" The steady beat and sing-song repetition underscores Robinson's jaunty gait, while the text gently informs readers that in Robinson's day times were hard and racism was an obstacle he had to overcome on his road to fame. "Rap A Tap Tap" is a fitting addition to Leo and Diane Dillon's long list of honored books, including two Caldecott Medal winners, three Coretta Scott King Awards and four Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards. "Rap A Tap Tap" could drum up yet another NAACP image award nominee for them. Now that's something to sing and dance about. 2002, Blue Sky Press / Scholastic, 32 pages, $15.95.

Janice M. Del Negro (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, December 2002 (Vol. 56, No. 4))
Youngsters get an introduction to master tap-dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson in this bouncy picture book. The rhyming text is a string of loosely related images connected by a repeating refrain: “His feet fairly flew as he tipped his hat./ Rap a tap tap--think of that!// He briefly paused to pat an old cat./ Rap a tap tap--think of that!// He danced rain or shine, in all kinds of weather/ Rap a tap tap--think of that!/ People listened each day for his toe-tapping clatter./ Rap a tap tap--think of that!” While the narrative has little tension or momentum, it is driven by the chantable refrain (“Rap a tap tap--think of that!”) and by the visual momentum of the Dillons’ dancing artwork. The collage-like geometrics of the neatly rendered urban scenes are awash with distinctive details; the larger-than-life figure of Robinson himself, dressed in elegant clothes and drafted in even more elegant lines, dominates each composition as he dances from spread to spread. There is a stylized distance to the illustrations and the text that leans toward the static, and, despite a note, this does little to inform listeners about Bill Robinson’s place in the pantheon of dance and American history. Still, an imaginative reader with some choreographic initiative should be able to make this a toe-tapping addition to storytime. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2002, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2002, Blue Sky/Scholastic, 32p, $15.95. Ages 3-6 yrs.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2003)
The Dillons pay homage to American tap-dancer Bill Robinson and--in their color-blocked, silhouetted illustrations--to Harlem Renaissance artist Aaron Douglas. In each double-page spread, Bojangles's feet fairly dance off the page as he passes through a varied urban landscape. The rhyming text isn't quite as light on its feet, and the rhythm seems to trip over the refrain--"Rap a tap tap--think of that!" Category: Nonfiction-Literature. 2002, Scholastic/Blue Sky, 32pp, $15.95. Ages 5 to 9. Rating: 4: Recommended, with minor flaws.

Diane Hernandez (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 15, No. 4))
This great rhythmic story celebrates the life of a man who was passionate about dancing. The legendary dancer, Bojangles, brought great pleasure to everyone who was around to enjoy his toe-tapping moves. He danced all through town for the rich and poor, young and old. The authors describe the dancing as a work of art. The repeated upbeat story and the repeated phrase, "Rap a tap tap--think of that," can be easily sung by children who read this book. Nonfiction. Grades Preschool-1. 2002, Blue Sky, Unpaged, $15.95. Ages 2 to 7.