Ballet, 2003
"Dance is one of the few arts in which we ourselves are the material, and every dancer becomes the ultimate artist, creating his or her own work."These are the words of Darcey Bussell, a world renowned ballet dancer. She, like so many other little girls before her, started going to ballet lessons when she was a very young. It was only when she was thirteen that she decided that ballet would become her vocation, her career. She had years of work ahead of her before she was able to play that coveted role of Odette in Swan Lake, that glorious mirage of feathers and glitter twirling and flying her way across the stage. For many it is after seeing a performance of one of the great ballets that they become bewitched. The magic of Swan Lake, Beauty and the Beast, Coppelia, Giselle or the Nutcracker, takes hold and they just have to try ballet for themselves. What they soon learn is that ballet is demanding. There are sore muscles and feet, the evening and weekend classes, and there is the practice. Over and over and over ballet dancers practice their positions and figures. All in all, only a small number of young men and women have the staying power to emerge fully fledged dancers, strong in body and disciplined to rehearse for hours for performances.
Below you will find a selection of books which takes the reader into the world of ballet and into the hearts of those who aspire to be ballet dancers. You will discover wonderful stories about young people who face all sorts of difficulties, real and imagined, and who persevere to overcome these difficulties. Each in their own special way succeeds and finds their place in the world wearing their ballet shoes. There is Tanya, a little girl who is determined to be a dancer even when she is a very little girl indeed. Tanya's beautifully illustrated stories leave one with a warm feeling inside and a sudden urge to go and see a ballet performance. There are also the delightful and detailed picture books about a little mouse called Angelina who lives and breaths ballet. In "Dancing in the Wings" a girl has to overcome her own fears and the teasing of others, continuing her practicing in the hope that her had work pays off, and it does.
There is also a good selection of non-fiction books about ballet. Many of these will serve as excellent guides for newcomers to ballet and youngsters who plan to join a class soon. In addition these books are wonderfully entertaining and interesting, packed with facts, beautiful illustrations, and bright photographs. We can read the words of famous dancers and learn about their lives and their careers.
Often inspiring and uplifting, these books offer a glimpse into a glittering world where a girl can turn into a swan at dawn, where magic can happen and dreams do come true. You will find many other books about ballet in our database.
Marya Jansen-Gruber
Book Reviewer and Writer
mjansengruber@mindspring.com
Reviews - Fiction
The AmahLaurence Yep
Laurence Yep's novel is both a coming-of-age story, and a modern-day Cinderella story focusing on the integration of Chinese culture into American society. Amy Chin, a ballerina, plays the role of the ugly stepsister on stage with her production company and at home. When money gets tight, Amy's mother is delighted to find a job as an amah, or a Chinese governess. But when the job begins to infringe on Amy's ballet classes and her mother forces her to wear hand-me-downs from Miss Stephanie, she begins to live out her ballet role in the real world. While The Amah has its basis in a classic story, it has a new-age twist. Although the characters deal with more realistic issues than the fairy tale, the book still manages to offer the classic's moral--don't judge people by their appearance, since appearances are deceiving. As in the fairy tale, inner beauty comes to be more important as two girls from different worlds manage to become friends. This easy-to-read story offers interesting insights into Chinese culture, while explaining the difficulties of integration for first-generation immigrants and their descendants. 2001 (orig. 1999), Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, Ages 9 to 12, $5.99. Reviewer: Laura Vanadore
ISBN: 0-698-11878-2
ISBN: 0-399-23040-8
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000; H.W. Wilson; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Michigan Reader's Choice Award, 2001; Michigan
Angelina Ballerina
Katharine Holabird
Illustrations by Helen Craig
In this charming picture book, a young mouse named Angelina Mouseling wants to dance more than anything else in the world. She dances everywhere--at home, at school, even in her dreams. She's so wrapped up in her dancing that she forgets to listen closely, tidy up her room, get ready for school and watch where she's going. Not knowing how to handle the situation, Angelina's parents put their heads together and devise a clever plan. They purchase a pink ballet dress and slippers and enroll their young dancer in Miss Lilly's Ballet School. This decision turns out to be an excellent one. Angelina practices her twirls, curtsies and plies during ballet lessons and no longer feels the need to dance all over the place. After her first day of classes, she declares "I'm the happiest little girl in the world today" and soon becomes a better listener and helper. Helen Craig's whimsical illustrations perfectly capture the spirit of Katharine Holabird's wonderful story. Readers of all ages will enjoy this delightful tale. It's a pure winner! 2000, Pleasant Company Publications, Ages 4 to 8, $9.95. Reviewer: Debra Briatico
ISBN: 158485135X
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Angelina's Ballet Class
Katherine Holabird
Illustrated by Catherine Kanner
Dance first through fifth positions with Angelina at Miss Lilly's ballet class. Angelina joins her friends and younger cousin, Henry, in practicing ballet positions and moves for the Sunflower Ballet. Young dancers can learn the basic ballet positions as well as the pas de chats, pirouette, and grand jete from the humorous illustrations. Unlike the other Angelina books by Katherine Holabird, the story line is minimal, but there is actually a lot of ballet information, making this perfect for the preschool or elementary school ballerina. At the end of this picture book, children can make their own flipbook of Angelina dancing. 2001, Pleasant Company, Ages 3 to 8, $7.95. Reviewer: Wendy Pollock-Gilson
ISBN: 1-58485-363-8
Ballerina Bear
Shana Corey
Illustrated by Pamela Paparone
Bernice, the bear, loved dancing of all kinds, but her favorite dance was ballet. Bernice took lessons twice a week, but try as she may, she could not master this dance form. Others made fun of her clumsiness, but Bernice persevered. Once day, Bertram, the bear, joined her class. Bertram was graceful, elegant, the perfect dancer. He was so perfect, he was boring, to everyone but Bernice. Bernice asked Bertram to be her partner. They practiced and practiced for the recital, and when the day arrived, the two performed their strange pas de deux. Bertram soared and Bernice, well... plopped. But the audience loved it. Childlike, pastel drawings accompany this perplexing tale of perseverance. 2002, Random House, Ages 4 to 7, $14.95. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger
ISBN: 0375814167
ISBN: 0375914161
Ballerina Flying
Alexa Brandenberg
Ahh...the ballet. It is a demanding discipline and those who dance must start very young in order to master it. This is a book for those young beginners. The first part of the book is about Mina, a young girl who loves to dance. It makes her feel like she is flying. The second part of the story is Mina's dance class. Mina's dance class is actually the reader's dance class. Descriptions of the activities that are done in class are accompanied by illustrations of students demonstrating them. The class begins with stretching activities and moves on to the five dancing positions. It even includes the names of the different exercises, an excellent foreign language lesson. The book begs to be interacted with. Early readers will love trying the different moves that the book describes. Its only downfall is that it does not translate well to children who aren't interested in ballet, but it may have the power to change their minds. 2002, HarperCollins, Ages 3 to 6, $15.95. Reviewer: Heather Robertson
ISBN: 006029549X
ISBN: 0060295503
Best Books:
Choices, 2003; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Ballerina!
Peter Sis
Here's an imaginative and satisfying tour of ballet roles as seen by Terry, a very young dancer of about five. She explores her dress-up box and, on the left-facing page, dances and cavorts in a variety of outfits. In the mirror on the right, what she imagines is pictured in complementary colors--in the person of an adult dancer. Terry's outfits are perfectly childlike--a yellow turban turns her into a cat dancer and a pink tutu suit for the Nutcracker. With her multicolored scarfs, she is the best ballerina of all and "her audience claps and claps and claps." (Mom and Dad, of course.) Little dancers will twirl, float, flutter, dip and try out the action words under the mirrored picture. Sis's signature black line with plenty of dotted shadows and highlights are minimally tinted in a few pastel colors per picture to give the reader's imagination room to dance. 2001, Greenwillow, Ages 3 to 7, $14.95. Reviewer: Susan Hepler
ISBN: 0688179444
Best Books:
Children's Book Sense 76 Picks, Spring/Summer 2001; Book Sense 76; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States
Parent's Guide to Children's Media, 2001; Parent's Guide to Children's Media, Inc.; United States
Ballet Bug
Christine McDonnell
Illustrated by Martha Doty
Bea Nash is a tomboy in the old-fashioned sense. In other words, ballet is not counted among her hobbies. She would much rather be scrimmaging with her ice hockey team than shimmying into a tutu. But when Bea is invited to watch a ballet movie of Cinderella at a friend's birthday party, she finds herself riveted to the screen. She is amazed by the speed and agility of the dancers, comparing their athleticism to those of skaters. She asks her mother if she can take ballet lessons without interfering with her hockey practice. Soon she is shopping for leotards and tights, heading for her first lesson. While the steps don't come easily to her at first, she enjoys the lesson and realizes she can learn. When tryouts for the annual Nutcracker production take place, Bea is encouraged by her friend Margaret, who has been a dancer for some time. Bea earns a part as a Polichinelle. Margaret is given the opportunity to dance the starring role, and some jealous dancers threaten to botch her performance. Margaret and Bea team up to support one another. The strength of their inter-racial friendship (Bea is Caucasian and Margaret is African American) shines amidst the prejudice and jealousy of some competitors. 2001, Viking/Penguin Putnam, Ages 8 to 12, $14.99. Reviewer: Karen Deans
ISBN: 0670035084
Ballet Shoes
Noel Streatfeild
Illustrated by Diane Goode
Some people collect stamps, some collect dolls. Great-Uncle Matthew (otherwise known as Gum) collects fossils. He also, quite by accident, collects two orphaned, and one unwanted, baby girls. After bringing the babies to his home, Great-Uncle Matthew heads off on a fossil hunting expedition and is not see again for years. In fact he is away so long that the three girls and their family have to come up with creative ways of putting food on the table because the money Gum left them is almost gone. With very human and likeable characters, Noel Streatfeild has created a story that pulls us into a time and place very different from our own, one where dreams can come true and where mistakes are forgiven. The three "Fossil" girls in this story find themselves attending a special school where they are trained to become dancers and actresses and it isn't very long before the two older girls are on the stage, performing at the tender age of twelve. It is with great awe that we watch these very young girls take on the responsibility of providing for their family, though we find ourselves wondering if it is really fair to the girls in the first place. Should they have to be working for a living when they are so young? What helps us overcome this concern somewhat is the joy two of the girls get from their work at the school. Pauline discovers that she loves to act and Poppy, the baby of the family, has ballet in her blood and is certainly going to be an extraordinary dancer when she grows up. We learn how much work is required to be a dancer and performer, how many hours have to be spent in practice and rehearsal. This is certainly one of those timeless stories which will delight ballet fans for years to come. 1993 (orig. 1937), Bullseye Books, Ages 12 up, $4.99. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber
ISBN: 0-679-84759
Baseball Ballerina Strikes Out!
Kathryn Cristaldi
Illustrated by Abby Carter
Can a lively girl combine her loves of baseball (with a prankster coach who once came to practice in a gorilla suit) and ballet (with Madame, a teacher who doesn't get it about jokes, like learning to do spins in the clothes dryer)? Especially when the mean Colby twins start harassing her on the way home and then show up at the play-off game, causing her homeruns to turn into "strike-three-you're out's. A good joke saves the day, and beginning readers (grades 1-3 suggested for this "Step Into Reading" book) will identify with the trials and tribulations of playing America's signature springtime game. Take this one along to an older sibling's game if you tend to get bored there, and it's also just right for reading in the car on the way. 2000, Random House, Ages 5 to 8, $3.99. Reviewer: Judy Chernak
ISBN: 0679891323
ISBN: 0679991328
Battle of the Bunheads
Jahnna N. Malcolm
In this second book in the "Bad News Ballet" series, the gang is together again for a winter dance class at the Deerfield Academy. Unfortunately, the snobby Courtney Clay and the Bunheads are in the same class. Tensions rise when it is announced that famous ballerina Alexandra Petrovna is coming to dance as Giselle at the Academy and a contest will decide which student dancer will be selected to present Ms. Petrovna with flowers. When the Bunheads nominate Courtney and Mary Bubnik, the gang suspects the Bunheads' motives, and they are determined to prevent Mary from embarrassing herself and the gang. Mary's own actions, however, save the day. As a story about friendship, competition, and making up in spirit what one lacks in ability, this novel will be a fun read for budding ballerinas. 2000, Starcatcher Press, Ages 9 to 12, $3.95. Reviewer: Valerie O. Patterson
ISBN: 0-9700164-1-7
ISBN: 0-5904191-6-1
Belinda the Ballerina
Amy Young
Belinda loves to dance, and she practices diligently. But at the audition for the Ballet Recital, she is jeered off the stage because of her big feet. Discouraged, she gives up dancing to become a waitress. When musicians come to play in the restaurant, Belinda can't help but dance. She is such a hit with the customers that the Maestro from the Grand Metropolitan Ballet comes to see her. Impressed, he invites her to perform on his stage. She is triumphant and happy at last. The predictable, if a bit unbelievable, story is lifted above the mundane by Young's oddly delicate but humorous gouache visualization of our heroine. Slim, almost anorexic but graceful, she has to deal with her grotesque feet. The scenes are varied and uncluttered, but provide enough context to set the stages for Belinda to dance upon. Faces are simplified almost to caricature, but appealing Belinda holds center stage. 2002, Viking/Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, Ages 3 to 8, $15.99. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 0-670-03549-1
A Dance of Sisters
Tracey Porter
Tracey Porter's novel is a story of the differences that grow between two sisters after the death of their mother. Delia Ferri, the youngest of the sisters, cannot remember what her mother was like because she was so young when her mother died. Her sister, Pearl, can remember but has changed because of her mother's death. She dresses in all black and practices witchcraft. Since Delia's father is having such a hard time with Pearl, Delia decides that she will not give her father anything to worry about in parenting her. Delia, a ballet dancer, works very hard to be a good dancer to give her father something to be proud of. Because of Delia's hard work, she is moved into a higher class and then cast for an important role in the Nutcracker. Because Pearl continues to be withdrawn and hard for her father to handle, he sends her away to a boarding school. While there, Pearl makes a change for the better because of her work with a horse. Delia starts to starve herself and work really hard to be the best ballet dancer. This causes her to push her friends away and become someone she does not like. In the end, she stops dancing ballet and begins a more free type of dance in which her sister joins her when she comes home from school. 2002, Joanna Cotler Books/HarperCollins, Ages 8 up, $15.99 and $15.89. Reviewer: Emily Ringger
ISBN: 0060281820
ISBN: 0060292393
Best Books:
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, November 18, 2002; Cahners; United States
Dancer
Lorri Hewett
Will ballet be Stephanie's future? This 16-year-old has been studying for 10 years, but her family wants her to go to college. She wonders if they may be right. How many black ballerinas actually make it? Lorri Hewett captures the passion for ballet poignantly in Dancer. A believable cast of characters provides a realistic setting for this determined teenager. 1999, Dutton, Ages 11 to 15, $15.99. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman
ISBN: 0525459685
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2000; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Books for You: An Annotated Booklist for Senior High, Fourteenth Edition, 2001; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000; H.W. Wilson; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Tayshas High School Reading List, 2000-2001; Texas
Dancer
Lorri Hewett
Stephanie has been studying ballet since she was six, and it has become the most important thing in her life. Now that college looms on the horizon, her parents feel she shouldn't be spending so much time at dance class. The world of ballet is so specialized, unsure, and mostly white. As a black ballerina, what are her chances of being successful? Stephanie's conflicts are sympathetically portrayed, while the reader gets a real sense of what it's like to be immersed in the demanding, passionate world of dance. Coming of age stories often focus on the interior world of the adolescent. While this is also true of Stephanie, many social situations are also touched upon and explored, some, but not all, relating to the African-American experience. Young teenagers will relate to her mixed feelings as she grapples with high school culture. Her integrity and honesty about herself is a wonderful role model for any young woman. 1999, Dutton Children's Books, Ages 14 to 17, $15.99. Reviewer: Nancy Partridge
ISBN: 0525459685
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2000; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Books for You: An Annotated Booklist for Senior High, Fourteenth Edition, 2001; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000; H.W. Wilson; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Tayshas High School Reading List, 2000-2001; Texas
Dancing Class
H.M. Ehrlich
Pictures by Laura Rader
This charming picture book achieves a low-key magic with subtle effects such as slant rhymes, the use of pink as a main color and lots of white space. Nothing much happens, unless you're a dancer, but young ballerinas will recognize themselves on every page--Piggy goes to dancing school, puts on her tights, lifts her leg at the bar, has a good time dancing, then falls and finds comfort from teacher, who says, "It's no disgrace." We know the various animals are having fun because they smile and cavort as they stretch toward the sky, and teacher tells them they're doing fine. The dancers even get to "rest their feet" while the accompanist cow "plays a ballet suite." The story is carried off with such confidence and an unusually good collaboration between writer and artist that readers will feel a nice sense of completion at the ending curtain call. 2001, Orchard Books, Ages 3 to 6, $12.95. Reviewer: Nancy Tilly
ISBN: 0531303004
Dancing in the Wings
Debbie Allen
Pictures by Kadir Nelson
In this story with similarities to Mary Hoffman's Amazing Grace, Sassy dreams of becoming a great dancer. She is, however, afraid that she will never succeed because she is so tall and her feet are so large. Her name, Sassy, fits perfectly, her mother says, but Sassy doesn't mind. She practices her dancing with fervor and takes (and gives) teasing from her brother and his friends. At last her big chance comes--she auditions for a spot in a summer training school and a performance in Washington, D.C. Here she finally finds a dance partner who is taller. Allen's story and Nelson's expressive, realistic oil paintings bring the saucy Sassy to life and present her as an inspiration for children to persevere to achieve success. Nelson's first painting of Sassy as a young girl is priceless. The reader cannot help but like her and root for her as she pursues her dream. This book, together with Amazing Grace, will give children the encouragement to develop self-confidence and never give up on a dream. Every collection of children's literature should have this wonderful, multicultural book. 2000, Dial Books for Young Readers, Ages 7 to 9, $16.99. Reviewer: J. B. Petty
ISBN: 0803725019
Best Books:
Capitol Choices, 2000; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2001; Children's Literature; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Storytelling World Awards Winner 2001 Stories for Pre-Adolescent Listeners United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Reading List, 2003; Arkansas
Degas and the Little Dancer: A Story about Edgar Degas
Laurence Anholt
It is not often that one knows the story behind a work of art, so one feels truly privileged to be able to share the story behind the famous 'Little Dancer' sculpture. With her slightly upturned little nose, her peach colored hair ribbon and her foot placed before her in the fourth position, the Little Dancer offers us a glimpse into the world of Marie, a young girl who dreamed of becoming a great ballerina. The author of this book has beautifully crafted the dancer's bittersweet story from her point of view and from that of the famous artist, Edgar Degas. What this very skilled storyteller has managed to do is to show us how both the young girl and the old man loose something very dear to their hearts. And yet, something beautiful is created out of their loss and their pain, the beautiful sculpture that is enjoyed by museum goers to this day, a hundred or so years after Degas first asked Marie to be his model. With illustrations done in the style of the great Degas himself, this is a wonderful book for ballet and art lovers alike. 1996, Barron's Educational Series Inc, Ages 8 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber
ISBN: 0-8120-6583-2
Drat! We're Rats
Jahnna N. Malcolm
This year's Deerfield Ballet production of the holiday classic, The Nutcracker, may be the most memorable, thanks to the camaraderie of five girls who don't want to be there. McGee is a tomboy who would rather be playing with her hockey team. Gwen enjoys snacking more than any form of exercise. Zan is a studious, lanky girl who is more comfortable curled up behind a book than on display. Rocky is a tough cookie who is mistaken for a juvenile delinquent. Mary is new to the neighborhood from the south following her parents' divorce. This is Mary's last chance to prove that she can fit in and make friends before she is sent back to live with her father. But Mary is also a total klutz. Bonds form when each girl admits she is only there to please her mother, and each hopes she isn't cast in the ballet. Ultimately, everyone who auditioned is cast, and the five misfit ballerinas are thrown into rehearsals and costume fittings, and all have nervous jitters. They are all assigned to the evil Mouse King's army--or as they prefer to be called--the rats. Friendship and loyalty among the girls blossom into strong bonds. This is a delightful, easily paced book in the "Bad News Ballet" series. It portrays how five unique girls form an amazing pact, and how they encourage and inspire each other, and even develop a love of ballet. 2000 (orig. 1989), Starcatcher Press, Ages 9 to 12, $3.95. Reviewer: Elizabeth Young
ISBN: 0-9700164-0-9
Emily's Ballet Box
Claire Masurel
Illustrations by Susan Calitri
Another "play set" hits the market. This one includes a nine-inch plush bunny dressed in satin leotards and tutu, a "reusable tote box," and a book. Herein lies the problem. The bunny is cute, and the box is a box, but the book, Emily's Dance Class, could have stretched harder and farther. It's a tiny, soft-covered book with a simple plot and lots of flapping, hopping, and leaping bunnies. The general chaos probably does reproduce accurately a first dance class for kids, but the narration lacks substance. The book seems to be an afterthought to selling stuffed bunnies in tutus. Is this the level to which the children's publishing industry wishes to sink? 2001, Puffin, Ages 3 to 5, $15.99. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr
ISBN: 0-14-230052-7
Emily's Dance Class
Claire Masurel
Illustrated by Susan Calitri
Emily is a sweet little bunny who takes a course in creative movement with other bunnies, a cat and a mouse. Charming illustrations in bold bright colors show what every little girl dreams of--a leotard with a tutu, ballet shoes, a barre and a piano. Some of the exercises the teacher proposes include hopping like frogs, flapping wings, leaping and spinning, and dancing with ribbons. The bunnies seem to be having a fine time, and Miss Mirabelle is a good teacher, telling Emily, "Good try!" when she is unable to copy the teacher's actions. This is a sweet book that will certainly find favor with budding ballerinas. Most of the flaps are nearly as large as the page and will be easily grasped by little hands. 2001, Puffin Books, Ages 2 to 5, $6.99. Reviewer: Candace Deisley
ISBN: 0140567585
Hooray for Ballet!
Margaret Frith
Illustrated by Amanda Haley
Elizabeth has been sent an assignment by her teacher, Ms. Brandt, in which she has to write a report on a subject of special interest to her. Elizabeth decides to do a report on ballet, as her uncle is a dancer in New York City. Uncle Tim takes his niece to see "Swan Lake," her very first ballet performance and she discovers that there is a lot more to ballet than she first thought. With amusing watercolor illustrations and photographs throughout the book, the author has been able to turn Elizabeth's report into a fascinating look at the history of ballet and also at what it means to be a ballet student and dancer today. The reader learns about the beginnings of the art form and why the names of the positions in ballet are in French. History obviously affected ballet but ballet also affected history in its own small way. The role of choreography and music is discussed and then Elizabeth describes the ballet that she goes to see. As "Swan Lake" is probably one of the most famous of all ballets it is a good one to use to introduce readers to this wonderful art form. This is a "Smart About the Arts" book. 2003, Grosset and Dunlap, Ages 5 to 8, $5.99. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber
ISBN: 0-448-43155-6
Marie in Fourth Position: The Story of Degas' "The Little Dancer"
Amy Littlesugar
Illustrated by Ian Shoenherr
Many of us have seen pictures of the famous Degas statue of the little ballet dancer. Unlike any other made before or since, it almost seems alive, a little ballerina standing poised in the fourth position every ballet dancer knows. In this remarkable book the author and illustrator have worked together to great effect to tell the story of Degas, the artists, the creator, and Marie, the little dancer who was his model. What is truly delightful about this story is that the author shows us how truly special the relationship between the man and the young girl was. Marie gave Degas a beautiful pose but Degas also gave Marie a gift, and it is the telling of this side of the story which is so charming and uplifting. Degas teaches Marie how to think and feel outside of herself when she dances, to imagine, for example, that she is a butterfly and not a girl. Once the modeling sessions are over and Marie returns to the Paris Opera to dance she is much changed. Her dancing is better, much better, because she has learned how to live her dancing and not just to do it. With illustrations done in the style of Degas himself, this book is truly a treasure for anyone who loves art and dance. 1996, Paperstar Books, Ages 8 up, $6.99. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber
ISBN: 0-698-11769-7
Marsha Is Only A Flower
Barbara Bottner
Illustrated by Denise Brunkus
Lulu is a bit insufferable because she is dancing the role of a princess in an upcoming recital. Her baby sister Marsha is only a flower. When the night of the performance arrives, Lulu is in the spotlight and suddenly she freezes--all eyes are on her as she had hoped, but now she is mortified. Baby Marsha comes to the rescue, and Lulu in turn rescues her baby sister. It all ends well and Lulu realizes that she does truly love and care about her baby sister. Part of the "Road to Reading" series, this is a Mile 3 book written for children who are ready to read easy stories by themselves. Each book in the series contains guidance for parents and a description of what each of the five levels is designed to do. 2000, Golden Books, Ages 6 to 8, $10.99 and $3.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0307263304
ISBN: 0307463303
Mouse Ballet
Michelle Cartlidge
What little girl could resist this pastel-colored book of seriously studious dancing mice preparing for their ballet recital? On every page there is a pocket or an envelope holding a tiny surprise, and on the last page a stage pops up and the show goes on. At six inches by six inches, this book can easily be held by little hands and tucked under the pillow or on the bedside table of a sleepy young reader. 2001, Little Simon, Ages 2 to 5, $6.99. Reviewer: Eleanor Heldrich
ISBN: 0-689-84427-1
The Nutcracker
Ernst Hoffmann
Adapted by David Clement-Davies
Illustrated by James Mayhew
At Christmas time, the familiar music of Tchaikovsky from his ballet version of The Nutcracker fills the airwaves and theaters. This "Eyewitness Classic" presents the story accompanied by illustrations that depict scenes and reproductions of artifacts, people and places appropriate to the story and its setting. Introductory pages offer a glimpse of Christmas in Germany during the early 19th century and the types of toys children would play with, while the closing pages mention the ballet and reveal a bit about Hoffmann. There is plenty to look at and kids may enjoy looking at the pictures and reading the captions before launching into the story. The story itself is engaging and filled with action. It also has a positive message, although the happily ever after ending--Marie's marriage to the King who had been enchanted and turned into an ugly nutcracker--may not be as appealing to modern tastes. However, the bravery and kindness of Marie more than make up for the fairy tale ending. 1999, DK Publishing, Ages 8 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0789447665
Presenting Tanya, the Ugly Duckling
Patricia Lee Gauch
Illustrated by Satomi Ichikawa
Girls who imagine themselves in tights and tutus will find satisfaction in this charming episode in the life of Tanya, a young dancer. Author, Patricia Lee Gauch studied ballet and knows the positions and attitudes that Tanya should take. Tanya feels clumsy, and is at times convinced that she really is the ugly duckling. But all true thespians know that practice makes perfect, and soon, Tanya (with the help of their teacher), is not playing a role. She becomes the ugly duckling turned into a swan. Ichikawa's paintings dance with energy and balletic poses. 1999, Philomel, Ages 4 to 8, $16.99. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman
This is the sixth book in the "Tanya" series and her ballet class is going to perform "The Ugly Ducking" for the spring recital. When the teacher, Miss Foley, announces those chosen for leads, Tanya is surprised to be picked to dance as the ugly duckling. Tanya is nervous and concentrates on learning the steps. At a rehearsal, she realizes that although she knows the steps, she is still only Tanya, not a winged duckling. Something is missing and she hears the whisper, "Poor Tanya, she really is an ugly duckling." With Miss Foley's encouragement, Tanya looks beyond the mechanics of the dance and at the dress rehearsal, she is no longer just Tanya, she is the swan. The excellent watercolor illustrations include double-page spreads of the young dancers, first practicing in their leotards and finally performing in costumed splendor. A book to encourage, not just dancers, but all children to open up and immerse themselves in their art and find their wings. A glossary of dance terms is included. 1999, Philomel Books/Penguin Putnam, Ages 5 to 9, $16.99. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford
ISBN: 0399232001
Best Books:
Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 1999; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, June 1999; Cahners; United States
Priscilla's Paw de Deux
Sharon Jennings
Illustrated by Linda Hendry
Priscilla Rat's burning ambition to become a dancer requires a bigger practice space. Madame Genevieve's dance studio would be perfect, except for the fearsome watch-cat. Priscilla tries to practice before the cat arrives, but is terrified when she is caught there. To her great surprise, Percival is only there to dance himself. Together they share the joy of dance, culminating in a recital. An added bonus is a visual glossary of ballet terms at the end of the story. Hendry offers a crew of anthropomorphic rodents and felines dressed in current fashion and acting out their adventures on handsome sets. Her double-page textured scenes and vignettes add detailed specificity and humor to the events suggested in the text. 2002, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, Ages 4 to 8, $14.95. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 1-55041-718-5
Swan Lake
Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky
Retold and illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger
Translated by Marianne Martens
This stylized retelling of Tchaikovsky's famous ballet, Swan Lake, is exquisitely illustrated. The spoiled prince falls in love with a beautiful young woman who is under an evil sorcerer's spell, which causes her to become a swan in daylight hours. The prince can break the spell by publicly professing his love, but the sorcerer tricks the prince into professing his love to another. While the adaptation follows the ballet's story line, the ending reflects Tchaikovsky's 1877 ballet with a happy-ever-after ending. In truth, it is the illustrations that carry this picture book; the soft colors combined with the graceful drawings are truly lovely. For children attending Swan Lake this book would allow them to follow the story line, and teachers could use this to introduce ballet, classical music or a fairy tale unit. 2002, North-South Books, Ages 5 to 10, $15.95. Reviewer: Wendy Pollock-Gilson
ISBN: 0735817022
ISBN: 0735817030
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Starring Lucille
Kathryn Lasky
Illustrated by Marylin Hafner
Lucille, a charming pink pig, is the youngest sibling in a familiar family group; her older brother and sister know more, can do more and have all the strategies for impressing Lucille with their superior power and sophistication. When an early birthday present from Grandma arrives, Lucille adores the glamorous pink tutu. She imagines herself as a famous dancer and practices every step, turn and twirl she can invent in preparation for a birthday performance. Parents everywhere will recognize the challenge of encouraging Lucille's spirit and interest while keeping the teasing of the older children (patiently) in check. They succeed admirably, and the birthday celebration proceeds with the perfect combination of imagination preserved, goals realized, and kind behavior triumphant amid good humor all around. Marilyn Hafner's charming, expressive illustrations are just right. From the clever details that perfectly complement the plot to the knowing looks of the pig parents, she has captured the spirit of what's real and best in family life. Parents and teachers will love reading this amusing, touching book to their children. 2001, Alfred A. Knopf, Ages 4 to 8, $14.95. Reviewer: Anne Field
ISBN: 051780039X
ISBN: 0517800403
Stories from the Ballet
Margaret Greaves
Illustrated by Lisa Kopper
Is there a young dancer in your life? These enchantingly written and illustrated stories are like fairy tales for would-be ballerinas. Yet their appeal is not limited to dance enthusiasts. Stories like "The Firebird" and "Coppelia" make good all-around tales, too. Greaves' poetic language makes this work a good bet for storytellers--and for dance teachers who want to get their young proteges in the mood to dance works from "Swan Lake" or "The Nutcracker." Kopper's delicate watercolors are as lovely as the text. 1999 (orig. 1993), Frances Lincoln Limited /Star Bright Books, Ages 9 up, $13.95. Reviewer: Donna Freedman
ISBN: 0-7112-1356-9
Swine Lake
James Marshall
Pictures by Maurice Sendak
The work of two children's book masters and a tribute to friendship come together in Swine Lake. Marshall spoke to Sendak about illustrating his last book shortly before his death in 1992. Their planning was general because, as Sendak pointed out in a recent interview, "there was no time, and it was not appropriate...his mind was elsewhere, thinking of his mortality and not a book." But anyone who knows the work of Marshall can see Sendak was most definitely guided by the spirit of his friend. Swine Lake is the story of a ballet loving, "lean and mangy wolf" who wanders into an unfamiliar section of town where a marquee touts the Boarshoi Ballet's production of Swine Lake. Photographs show "leaping, swirling, bowing, juicy pigs" and limo-driven, bejeweled hogs fill the streets. "The aroma of pig, thinly disguised by French perfume" makes the wolf swoon. The impoverished wolf lucks into a ticket for a balcony seat from which he surveys plump porcine prospects. But by the end of the first act, he's captured by the drama, and later, staggers "out of the theater in a trance," food forgotten and satiated with art. Bitten by the ballet bug, the wolf becomes a surprise dancer who, as a review states, while he "was a bit on the clumsy side, he lent a note of authenticity." Swine Lake's main character, the wolf, which Sendak sees as "a misunderstood, misanthropic, art loving, carnivorous hybrid of a creature," is both hero and villain, and has enormous depth. Underneath the book's play lurk important statements about art, entirely appropriate for two men who leave such an aesthetic legacy to children. 1999, HarperCollins, Ages 6 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Susie Wilde
ISBN: 0062051717
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, May 1999; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
National Association of Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) Winner 1999 Storybook United States
Swine Lake
James Marshall
Pictures by Maurice Sendak
The story begins with promise: when a hungry wolf wanders through an unfamiliar part of town, he stumbles on a tasty surprise. A pack of pirouetting pigs--the Boarshoi Ballet, no less--are performing a matinee aptly called "Swine Lake." And as luck would have it, the wolf receives a windfall just before curtain call: a free ticket. Although the wolf came in for a porcine feast, he soon finds himself feasting on the grace and talent of the dancing pigs. Although Sendak's illustrations are masterful--full of stage humor, in-jokes and silly puns--they are sometimes disconnected from the text, and or fail to fill in story gaps. The text has many clever moments. But the story suffers from uneven pacing and a disconnection from the illustrations. Overall, the book promises more than it delivers. 1999, Harper Collins Publishers, Ages 8 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Dianne Ochiltree
ISBN: 0062051717
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, May 1999; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
National Association of Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) Winner 1999 Storybook United States
Tanya and the Red Shoes
Patricia Lee Gauch
Illustrated by Satomi Ichikawa
Tanya, the heroine of Gauch's other ballet books, longs to dance sur pointes, but is told by her dance teacher and her older sister, also a dancer, that she will dance on her toes "one day, perhaps." Tanya is frustrated. She is tired of her soft, babyish slippers and despairs that "one-day" will never come. After seeing the old movie "The Red Shoes," she yearns for a pair of magical red toe shoes. At last, her teacher announces their class is ready to go up on their toes. Tanya holds her new toe shoes "like flowers," and is unbearably excited. But when she gets blisters, she throws her new shoes across the room. Her sister Elise shows Tanya that magic comes with practice, that whirling pirouettes and gravity-defying leaps can only be accomplished in toe shoes--and with time. Eventually, Tanya dances sur pointes, making her dream come true. Satomi Ichikawa's lively watercolor and ink illustrations capture Tanya's every mood and movement. A book for young dancers everywhere, or anyone with a dream who should realize that hard work and practice create magic. 2002, Philomel, Ages 4 to 8, $16.99. Reviewer: Candice Ransom
ISBN: 0399233148
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2002; Children's Literature; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
2x2 Reading List, 2003; Texas
The Tanya Treasury
Patricia Lee Gauch
Illustrated by Satomi Ichikawa
The world is full of little girls who want to become ballerinas. Tanya is one of these little girls, and in this trio of stories we read about her adventures in the world of ballet. It is perhaps not altogether surprising that Tanya is eager to be a dancer, as her big sister Elise goes to ballet lessons. To her great delight little Tanya is soon going to lessons herself. It isn't long before she discovers that being a dancer is hard work, very hard work. With great sensitivity the author follows Tanya's slightly bumpy journey of self discovery. The girl discovers that mastering the steps is not enough. One has to feel the movement and be the role. Satomi Ichikawa's delicate and beautiful watercolor illustrations carry us forward as the awkward little girl learns how to leap and twirl, how to change from an ugly duckling into a swan, and how to learn from her teachers and fellow students. In the story "Presenting Tanya the Ugly Duckling" Tanya's story is told in conjunction with the story of the ugly duckling. We soon see that Tanya is not unlike an ugly duckling, trying to find her place and not being quite sure of herself. Beautifully crafted and paced, this last story in the treasury makes us want to read more about this determined and charming girl who wants to fly through the air in a pair of pink slippers. 2002, Philomel Books/Penguin Putnam, Ages 4 to 6, $19.99. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber
ISBN: 0-399-23952-9
Winnie (Dancing) On Her Own
Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Illustrated by Alissa Imre Geis
Third-graders Vanessa, Winnie and Zoe have been best friends since kindergarten. They call themselves the End-of-the-Alphabet Club, wear an identical piece of clothing each day and spend every afternoon together. That's why Winnie feels betrayed when Vanessa and Zoe decide to take ballet lessons on Tuesdays, the day the girls always go to the library. Winnie has no talent for dancing, and despite their appeals that she join them, she worries that her best friends are freezing her out. This early chapter book sensitively deals with the powerful need to belong as it gently and humorously details Winnie's attempts to please her friends. As much as she tries to follow the ballet teacher's instructions, however, Winnie is just not cut out to be a dancer. Her single-parent father wisely advises her to use her vivid imagination, and that happily leads Winnie to a resolution. Geis's stick-figure pencil illustrations pack a lot of feeling into their simple shapes, and Jacobson understands the convoluted emotions of girls this age, particularly when it comes to friendship. The loving relationship between Winnie and her silly, sweet father and the positive urban setting add greatly to the book's charm. 2001, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 6 to 8, $15.00. Reviewer: Miriam Rinn
ISBN: 0618132872
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2002; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States
Top 10 Youth First Novels, 2001; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2003; Kentucky
Reviews - Nonfiction
The Ballet Book: The Young Performer's Guide to Classical Dance
Deborah Bowes
Slight format problems are really all that hold this book back from excellence. The sound advice and clear photographs will be very helpful to earnest young dancers, but the hardcover option would probably be a better choice than the fragile trade binding, which probably won't hold up under the kind of use readers will give this title. While the black-and-white photography is exceptional for illustrating the various positions, and steps and poses, color illustrations would have been more appealing for the chapter on sample performances. Some of the information, choosing a teacher or school for instance, might be more meaningful to parents than to children, but is still valid and helpful. This book is not for absolute beginners, but should be valuable to young artists serious in their pursuit of classical ballet. 1999, Firefly, Ages 8 to 15, $19.95 and $12.95. Reviewer: Donna T. Brumby
ISBN: 1-55209-352-2
ISBN: 1-55209-353-0
Best Books:
Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Ballet Dancing
Mark Thomas
This title is part of the "Welcome to Reading!" series that is designed to provide children with a fun introduction to reading about people, places and things in their world. This selection in the "Let's Dance" series provides a simple overview of ballet dancing. Each page contains a color photograph and two to three short sentences in large type. Words contained in the glossary are in bold type. Children can learn the basics about this style of dance and use the bibliography in the back to discover more. The text is simple enough for beginning readers, but the content will also appeal to older children who are struggling to read. 2001, Children's Press, Ages 6 to 10, $13.50 and $4.95. Reviewer: Cheryl Peterson
ISBN: 0516231421
ISBN: 0516230670
Ballet School
Camilla Jessel
For anyone who is or has dreamed of becoming a dancer, this photo journal that follows a first-year class at the Royal Ballet School from auditions to end of term will have special appeal. The selected ones, who are primarily eleven-year-old girls and boys, learn that self-discipline helps them be better students and sports enthusiasts. They learn to sew their own shoe elastics and ribbons and to keep neat and tidy (the girls do their own hair). Their daily classes and practice build strength and skill until they eventually do port de bras, arabesques, pirouettes, and pas de deux, all of which are explained and pictured (glossary included). They also study music (including instruments), art (drawing, painting, and making masks), and choreography (creating their own ballets). At the end of year, the students dance in Peter and the Wolf for TV, two boys train for roles in Anastasia at the Royal Opera House, and a group of girls dance as Little Swans in Swan Lake. Lovely photos, some of adult dancers, capture the exercises, jumps, intricate movements, and many moods of the performers. The book also indicates some of the pitfalls of dance (girls dare not start on pointe too early for fear of ruining their feet). 2000 (orig. 1999), Viking/Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, Ages 10 up, $15.99. Reviewer: Carol Raker Collins
ISBN: 0-670-88628-9
Ballet School
Naia Bray-Moffat
Photographs by David Handley
Starting something new can be a little intimidating and having a helping hand is always welcome. This book provides a very personal helping hand for those of us who want to start ballet lessons. We begin our journey by being introduced to Jamie, a little girl who is going to ballet class for the first time. For the rest of the book we participate with Jamie, sharing her day and feeling very much a part of her experience. Each double spread introduces us to a new component of the ballet class. We are told what we will need to take to class, what to expect once we are there, what kinds of exercises and moves we will practice, and why classes are managed the way they are. We also learn about the performances, and even a little about the costumes and makeup. This is a comforting and friendly companion to take along on a first venture into the world of ballet. The photographs show smiling faces, children (both boys and girls) enjoying themselves and making friends. As a guide to the newcomer to ballet this book would offer reassurance and much information. 2003, Dorling Kindersley, Ages 6 to 8, $12.99. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber
ISBN: 0-7894-9228-8
The Best Book of Ballet
Angela Wilkes
The lights dim, the curtain rises and the audience waits with anticipation. Suddenly, the music begins and dancers create graceful patterns of movement to tell a story. Welcome to the magical world of ballet! Ballet dancers train for many years. They begin with the corps de ballet. Some become soloists and the most talented become principals. The five basic positions of ballet are presented. What is the grand jete' and the grand allegro? Who can balance on one leg and do the pirouette and the arabesque? While the dancers rehearse, people are busy behind the scenes painting the backdrops, experimenting with the lightening to create the best atmosphere and designing and the special costumes. Many people work behind the scenes to help. Photographs, reproductions and illustrations capture the details of the costumes and makeup from favorite ballets. Step-by-step views of basic ballet positions are vivid and precise. Children and adults will enjoy Wilkes' book, as every page teaches about the precise art of ballet. 2000, Kingfisher, Publications, Ages 7 to 12, $12.95. Reviewer: Shirley Long
ISBN: 0753452758
Dance of the Swan: A Story about Anna Pavlova
Barbara Allman
Illustrations by Shelly O. Haas
Beginning with her first visit to a ballet performance at age eight, we follow Anna Pavlova's life-long love affair with this demanding form of dance. Six chapters, enhanced by occasional black-and-white drawings, describe Anna's growth from beginning pupil at the Russian Imperial Ballet School at age ten through her rise to prima ballerina as a young woman. The story continues through her busy, creative years traveling the world, bringing the joy and beauty of the dance to a variety of people while teaching and inspiring many young dancers. The author nicely describes Anna's unique style and appeal. Part of the "Creative Minds Biographies," this book should appeal to ballet enthusiasts, and perhaps also to young readers just becoming interested in this art form. A bibliography, index and selected repertoire are included. 2001, Carolrhoda Books, Ages 10 to 14, $21.27. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan
ISBN: 1575054639
The Dancer Who Flew: A Memoir of Rudolf Nureyev
Linda Maybarduk
Rudolph Nureyev burst like a comet upon the dance world in 1958 with his premiere performance at the famed Kirov ballet as a soloist, partnering its prima ballerina, rather than as just a member of the ensemble. Having started formal lessons at the late age of seventeen and coming from a dismal, impoverished background, this rebellious but incredibly talented young Tatar blazed through the staid circles of dance. He was determined to become the "brilliant dancer" rather than the "total failure" predicted when he was reluctantly accepted into the Leningrad Ballet School just three years before. His career was marked by brilliance, innovation, temperamental tantrum, and true genius, and he is remembered in the same breath as the legendary Nijinsky, Eric Bruhn, and Baryshnikov, who followed him. The author, a former partner and close friend who invited Rudi to godfather her first child, writes with honesty, love and awe of this heroic character. She tells of his never missing a rehearsal or performance, no matter how ill or injured; his tempers and humor; his defection to the West in 1961, and his subsequent long partnership with Dame Margot Fonteyn. This is a fabulous memoir of a lion that refused to listen to anything except his need to follow his own star. Although color photographs rather than black-and-white would have enhanced the book, it is a good read and an inspiring story for anyone. 1999, Tundra, Ages 10 up, $18.95. Reviewer: Judy Chernak
ISBN: 0887764150
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2000; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Not Just for Children Any More, 2000; Children's Book Council; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, December 1999; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
The Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction Honour Book 2000 Canada
Degas and the Dance
Susan Goldman Rubin
Aspiring ballet dancers, aficionados of dance history, and admirers of Edgar Degas will find much to savor in this lovely volume. Featuring more than thirty of Degas' drawings, sketches, and paintings of the Paris Opra's dancers, its large format and the quality of the reproductions (well up to Abrams's usual standard) make it outstanding. The text concerns Degas' fascination with the ballet and its dancers, from the petits rats to the ballerinas. He loved to go backstage, to visit the classrooms and practice halls, to observe and sketch the students at work. While we see no male dancers (the dandies of the day preferred to look at young women on stage), Degas did paint the famous dancer and choreographer, Jules Perrot, by then an old man, but still teaching. The glowing illustrations show dancers stretching, adjusting their pointe shoes, trying an arabesque in class, as well as performing on stage. We see mothers and chaperones of the students, violinist accompanists, watering cans used to dampen the floors, bits of scenery, and glimpses of the orchestra. Any ballet student will find much that is familiar today. Each painting or sketch is accompanied by a short explanation of the technique used (from colored paper for pastels to the influence of Japanese woodblock prints) and sometimes of the model's identity. The author has included a short, informative biography of Degas, a bibliography, and something about her research at the School of American Ballet. This one deserves a Bravo! 2002, Abrams, Ages All, $17.95. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft
ISBN: 0810905671
Best Books:
Choices, 2003; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Notable Children's Books, 2003; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, December 2002; Cahners; United States
First Lessons In Ballet
Lise Friedman
Photographs by K.C. Bailey
Consultant, Suki Schorer
This primer offers an extremely detailed education in the basics of ballet, replete with photos and enhanced with comments about each area of the body involved in creating the mystique that dance is pure effortless beauty. Relationship of arms to chest to legs, what to concentrate on while forming the positions, what to watch out for--"No jolting! Don't clench your fingers! Shoulders down and relaxed!"--all are designed to perfect the young dancer's technique and instill body awareness throughout every second of the class routine. The book should be a huge help to anyone who ventures into this art form, with its visual and verbal accent on correct training, its explanation of dance terms, and its constant reminders of the beauty required to pair with strength and repetition to produce the desired result. The models--one female dancer with twelve years of experience and a group of three younger children (two girls and a boy) lend multicultural perspective and a sense of democracy to the pursuit of ballet. 1999, Workman, Ages 6 up, $14.95 and $8.95. Reviewer: Judy Chernak
ISBN: 0761113525
Footnotes: Dancing the World's Best-Loved Ballets
Frank Augustyn and Shelley Tanaka
This beautiful book, based on the Footnotes television series, conveys the excitement and exaltation of ballet even as it describes the excruciating pain and practice necessary for these artistic productions. Augustyn, a former principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada, brings a personal sensitivity to his discussion of the history and performance of this art form. Interesting insights, technical pointers and plot synopses of seven of the best-known ballets expand the reader's knowledge and provoke an appreciation of ballet. Contemporary and archival photographs feature dancers, instructors, choreographers, costume designers and others who contribute to the success of these productions. Some basic knowledge on the part of readers is assumed. Ballet terms are not defined, although it is sometimes possible to ascertain their meaning from the accompanying photographs. A detailed index, but no glossary, is included. 2001, Millbrook Press, Ages 10 to 14, $24.90. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer
ISBN: 0761323236
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, June 2001; Cahners; United States
I Am a Dancer
Photographed by Jane Feldman
The camera follows Eva, an eighth grader, as she moves through her life of training to become a ballet dancer. Eva was born in China to a ballet dancer mother and American diplomat father. As she began to take lessons in China, her mother observed Eva's special talent, and her family decided that she should continue her ballet studies in New York. She auditioned and was accepted by a major ballet company, and now lives and studies in New York. We follow Eva as she practices under her mother's guidance, attends auditions, performs, and enjoys the life in New York City. Minimal text accompanies the charming photos. Aspiring ballerinas will love this book. One in the "Young Dreamers" Series. 1999, Random House, Ages 7 to 10, $14.99. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger
ISBN: 0679886656
Mikhail Baryshnikov, Dance Genius
Bruce Glassman
This biography of one of the finest and most renowned male ballet dancers of the twentieth century is lively reading. Born in Riga, Latvia, then part of the Soviet Union, Misha, as he is nicknamed, began dancing at the age of twelve. His unique athleticism and artistic interpretation were recognized early on in his career and soon, he was dancing with the world famous Kirov Ballet in Leningrad, now St. Petersburg, Russia. The Kirov's staunchly classical interpretation of ballet stifled the creative genius of Misha, and he longed to use his talents in a more creative manner. In 1974, he followed other famous Russian ballet stars by defecting while on tour in Canada. He joined Natalia Makarova, a Russian ballerina, at the American Ballet Theatre in New York City. Baryshnikov then began an illustrious American career that included ballet, theatre, movies and choreography. His ability to seemingly float in the air has earned him many accolades and fans. He is credited with renewing America's interest in classical dance. The book, well written and researched, is sprinkled with black-and-white photos of marginal quality, however, Misha's life, both public and private, provides colorful reading. While he is no long dancing publicly, Baryshnikov continues his involvement in dance to this day. The book is part of the "Giants of Art and Culture" series. 2001, Blackbirch Press, Ages 10 to 15, $21.95. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger
ISBN: 1567115071
Best Books:
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States
Not Just Tutus
Rachel Isadora
For all those who dream that being a ballet dancer is glamorous and a life full of light and glory, think again. Just like any other art form it has its price. Having been a dancer herself the author knows all too well what that price is and in this often-funny little book she shows the reader that other side of the ballet world, the real side, the one where the ballet dancers live and work. She begins by showing us the "Dreams and Practice" side of the ballet world. Here we see how the dreams are born and what forms they come in. There is the little girl who knocks things over as she dances about and the one who dances whenever the muse hits her, even in the street. Then there is the painful side: here are the sore feet, the endless practice, and the "Toes on head/You gotta be kidding." The second section of the book covers the performance, the "Makeup and Lights." One has to keep in mind after all that a performance is what it is all about. Here we learn about ill-fitting costumes, mistakes made on the stage, stage-fright, broken slipper ribbons and best of all the sheer joy of a dance done well. So much is demanded of these children that you come to realize that anyone who goes in for ballet training has to be as dedicated as they come. Though the author may not have meant to happen, it is hard for any reader to put the book down once it is read and not feel a sense of pride and awe for these little dancers. This book is a must for any child thinking of becoming a dancer and for any dancing enthusiast in need of a smile and a pick-me-up. 2003, Putnam, Ages 6 up, $13.99. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber
ISBN: 0-399-23603-1
Performing Arts
Antony Mason
This book from the "Culture Encyclopedia" series is a basic introduction to different types of performing arts. Readers will learn about the creation of performing arts in the 17th century right up to their popularity in today's society. Each chapter includes brief descriptions of various forms of performing arts such as circus, ballet, puppets, dance, and television. Within each performing art, examples are given of the many different types of that art--dancing, for instance, includes African dances, Greek dancing, and break dancing. Some history of how each main type of performing art has evolved over the years is included. The text is written in an easy-to-read format that helps captivate the reader's attention. The full-color pictures throughout the book are vivid and help create a visual understanding. Included are a table of contents, panels of little known facts on almost every page and an index. The glossary at the end of the book lists some text words, although none of the words are bold-type in the text, which might confuse readers as to why they were chosen. A great classroom tool to use for reference in research and report writing or for readers who want to learn more about the world of performing arts. 2003, Mason Crest Publishers, Ages 10 up, $18.95. Reviewer: Christy Oestreich
ISBN: 1-59084-481-5
Superguides: Ballet
Darcey Bussell with Patricia Linton and
In association with the Royal Ballet School
"Sensitivity to different forms of beauty, including that of nature, can only make you more sensitive to beauty in ballet." It is with such pieces of advice that this wonderful book is filled. For the newcomer to ballet it offers instruction and necessary advice. To the general lover of the art form, there are all sorts of interesting facts, wonderful photographs and insights into the world of ballet. Each colorful double spread covers a new topic from "Getting ready for class" at the beginning of the book to "Going to the ballet" at its end. The author as also included a fascinating section about her life as a dancer. It gives one a very personal look into what a dancer has to do in her daily routine of practice and performing. Great attention has been given to some of the smaller details in the lives of ballet dancers. For example, how ballet shoes should be tied and cared for. Clearly, attention to detail is important in this demanding art form; hands have to be held at just the right height and feet need to be in just the right position. At the same time the author never lets us forget that the purpose of ballet is to create something beautiful. This book would make a wonderful gift to a budding dancer. 2000, Dorling Kindersley, Ages 12 up, $9.95. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber
ISBN: 0-7894-5429-7
Tallchief: America's Prima Ballerina
Maria Tallchief with Rosemary Wells
Illustrations by Gary Kelley
Beginning with her Osage Indian father and Scots-Irish mother, this inspiring, picture book biography tells how young Maria Tallchief developed her talent and love for music and dance, learning how "to be strong enough to dance for hours..." and "delicate enough to break the human heart." Told in the first person, from Maria's point of view, we follow her from her childhood in Oklahoma, guided by an amateur teacher, to her teen years in Los Angeles where she decided to devote her life to dance. Large, rather impressionistic illustrations evoke period and place as well as Maria's love for her art. An author's note is included. 1999, Viking, $15.95. Ages 5 up. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan
ISBN: 0670887560
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2000; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 1999; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2000; National Council for the Social Studies; United States
Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children, 2000; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
Smithsonian Magazine's Notable Books for Children, 1999; Smithsonian; United States
Want to Be a Ballerina
Andrea Pinnington and Roger Priddy
Tina is a ballerina and as the illustration points out, she has all of the appropriate trappings for a dancer--neat hair, tutu, ballet shoes, leotard and of course, very strong legs. She is preparing to go out on stage and feels excited and a bit scared. In the next scene, kids can peek behind the curtains to see the young ballerinas on stage and then they can feel the stiffness of the tutu. After the applause dies down the star ballerina is presented with a bouquet of flowers. On this page there is a scratch and sniff spot to see what the flowers will smell like. The treasure chest contains small cardboard replicas of many of the very special items that belong to the young ballerina. Fine for girls who like to aspire to be in the limelight, especially to be young dancers. 2002, St. Martin's Press, Ages 2 to 4, $7.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-312-49097-6
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Added 8/1/03
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If you're interested in reviewing children's and young adult books, then send a resume and writing sample to marilyn@childrenslit.com.