Knockin’ On Wood

* "This inspiring biography of Clayton 'Peg Leg' Bates, who lost his left leg in a cottonseed mill accident in 1919 at the age of 12, chronicles the man's amazing life from his days as the son of a sharecropper in South Carolina to his rise to fame as a tap dancer. . . Barasch's watercolor-and-ink cartoon paintings capture the poverty of the dancer's early life, the adulation of his fans, and his joyous love of dancing."

"It's a very neat story, told briefly but effectively; the illustrations are full of movement and flair"

"[A] credible introduction to a memorable and remarkably resolute dancer."

"Sprightly ink-and-watercolor art ably depicts both the poverty of Bates' early life and the colorful world of entertainment. A remarkable two-page spread bridges the before and after, showing many small images of Bates in various tap dancing positions. . . Quotes at the book's conclusion offer a taste of his philosophy: 'Black or white, one leg or two, it doesn't matter. Good is good."

"This is a compact and enlightening biography of an unusual figure. . . Bates is a natty and amiable figure, whose airborne exuberance conveys his love of his art form. This will provide a useful dance counterpoint to all those pink ballet books, and it's also a lively and capable tribute to an American original."

"Knockin' on Wood makes an important contribution to children's literature by raising awareness of this remarkable and talented man."