The article presents images of dance in Polish and Ukrainian picturebooks for children. The authors consider that motif of dance serves not only to present the culture and customs of a given society, but it is also a starting point to more profound, existential, and universal deliberations. Texts which are analyzed in the article show in a broader, psychological perspective of consideration, that dancing also represents experiences of a person and their emotions and have a special place in children’s subculture: it is a kind of play, gamble but above all it’s a ritualization of children’s behaviors, which is expressed in combination with music (a pattern of gestures and movement). The article illustrates a dance described in the literary text, to create visual images of a dance/dances, emphasizes rhythmicity of a poetic text, shows characters in motion, to enhance dynamism in the illustrations, presents shared happiness, unity or a happy ending and popularizes national culture. In conclusion article shows different functions of dance in literary texts and the pictures: 1). entertaining/ludic (includes comedy, humor, caricature portrayal of characters, strange poses of dancers); 2). emotive/expressive (depictions of dance represent various emotions); 3). aesthetic–educational; 4). informative/cognitive.