 Although the family is African American, "Happy Feet" is similar in theme to Michelson's Jewish-themed picture books because it centers on a strong family.Focusing on the parent-child relationship, the story is narrated by a young boy whose father runs a business across the street from Harlem's Savoy ballroom, where the family has a front-row seat to the parade of culture, swing music, dance, and celebrity that passes through the dance palace's doors.Showcasing the rich culture that flowered in that New York neighborhood during the early twentieth century, "Happy Feet" serves as "a valentine to the renowned Savoy" as well as a "tribute [that] will take young readers back to Harlem-as-it-was," according to a Kirkus Reviews writer.