Knock, knock. Special delivery! Now Boarding the Magic Train!
When a magical ticket arrives, it's time to hop on the train and set off on a whimsical journey with Sami, the playful pug who's always ready to spin, leap, and explore. From fluffy cloud worlds to ocean waves, every stop invites kids to move their bodies and ignite their imaginations. But when Sami gets lost along the way ... will teamwork, courage, and creativity help bring her back?
A Story You Don't Just Read-You Move Through the Adventure
From the award-winning Once Upon a Dance team, this interactive tale invites children to become part of the story with movement prompts on each page.
What Kids Will Explore
- Foundational Dance: Early Concepts like Levels, Pathways, and Energy
- Physical Skills: Rhythm, Coordination, and Spatial Awareness
- Social-Emotional Growth: Teamwork, Problem-Solving, and Resilience
- Imaginative Play: Storytelling through Shapes and Expression
No dance experience needed-just a little wiggle room!
A Heartwarming Adventure
With a playful rescue mission, this story gently reinforces kindness, connection, and confidence. As the Magic Train whisks readers from tunnels to clouds to the ocean and beyond, characters model:
- Teamwork and Problem-Solving
- Helping a Friend in Need
- Resilience and Curiosity
Perfect For
- Ages 3-7
- Preschool and Early Elementary Classrooms
- Creative Movement, Pre-Ballet, and Dance Classes
- Storytime with Built-In Movement Breaks
- Homeschool Families
- Dog Lovers
Movement Concepts in All Aboard with Sami
- Locomotor Skills
- Dynamics & Weight
- Spatial Awareness
- Creative Prop Play
- Partner Activities
About the Creators
All Aboard with Sami is based on a classroom story brought to life by Deborah Kenner, a movement educator whose work bridges dance and science. Building on her professional ballet experience, she earned a PhD in Health and Human Performance and an MS in Kinesiology. A former Artistic Director of Tucson Regional Ballet, Deborah now brings this embodied expertise to Pacific Northwest Ballet as faculty and assistant principal.
Once Upon a Dance creates stories that get children moving, imagining, and connecting through joyful, meaningful movement. Created by Teacher Terrel and her daughter, a professional ballerina, their award-winning collaborations blend storytelling with dance education to inspire confidence, creativity, and lifelong love of movement.
A. Dance, Once Upon: - Blending whimsy with movement, ONCE UPON A DANCE offers an award-winning collection of interactive children's books and ballerina wisdom. Forty books across nine series deliver toddler twirls through pre-professional career advice. These stories are created by a former dance teacher passionate about sharing movement and life skills, and feature her daughter, Ballerina K, as a gentle guide and positive role model. Frequent themes include the joy of practice and perseverance, the bravery to stand tall and stay kind, the magic of friendship and family, the strength of self-acceptance, and lessons in empathy that extend to all creatures.Once Upon a Dance inspires joyful movement through stories that celebrate connection, imagination, and grace. Books honor the beauty and discipline of ballet while championing capable girls and strong women. With empowering messages and live-management tools, they invite every reader to build confidence and creativity.
