Bella ballerina

Sharon M. Draper

Book - 2024

At her first ballet recital, a young ballerina overcomes a bout of stage fright to help a fellow dancer in need.

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Children's Room New Shelf jE/Draper (NEW SHELF) Checked In
Subjects
Genres
Stories in rhyme
Picture books
Published
New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers 2024.
Language
English
Main Author
Sharon M. Draper (author)
Other Authors
Ebony Glenn (illustrator)
Edition
First edition
Item Description
"A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book."
Physical Description
1 volume (unpaged): color illustrations; 27 cm
Audience
Ages 4-8.
Grades K-1.
ISBN
9781534463967
Contents unavailable.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

A cast of children portrayed with various skin tones takes the stage in this kindness-centered collaboration set in a dance class, where "tippy-toe tutu,/ tippy toe twirl,/ Bella Ballerina/ loves to spin and whirl." As the brown-skinned child learns new vocabulary and skills, occasional wobbles result in classmates steadying her or helping her up. When a big show places Bella in front of a crowd, prompting her to linger anxiously in the wings, another friend's need creates an opportunity for her to jeté to the rescue. Utilizing alliteration and assonance in rhyming verse, Draper creates a dance-like lilt, while Glenn's stylistically flat digital artwork uses simple shapes to create an amiable atmosphere for this tale of community amid skill-building. Dance terms conclude. Ages 4--8. (Oct.)

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

A young Black ballerina practices for an upcoming recital. Little Bella loves to spin and whirl at the Crystal Pointe Ballet Academy. She enjoys the music and learns positions such as chassé, passé, and pas de chat. Along with a diverse cast of young dancers, she takes lessons from a Black ballet teacher, with a Black pianist accompanying them. The class is appropriately fun for these youngsters, who pretend to be dragons and little ducks. When Bella loses her shoe in class, a friend is there to assist. We briefly see the students prepare for the show. Soon Bella finds herself onstage, fighting nerves. What will help her spring into action? Reaching out to support a fellow dancer through a moment of uncertainty grounds Bella--and gives her the strength to soar. With digital illustrations sparkling with stars, set against pink, yellow, and blue backgrounds, the pages are cheery, like a trip to a candy store. Keeping the energy levels high, Glenn depicts the characters' swirls and twirls. While the narrative's dramatic tension is quite minor, readers will appreciate this gentle tale that emphasizes the importance of helping a friend in need. Told in chirpy rhyming verse, the simple narrative would be a good read-aloud. Portraying dancers of various ethnicities, with Black adults as teachers, this title also offers a refreshingly inclusive depiction of ballet. A gracefully illustrated, uplifting story for young balletomanes. (glossary)(Picture book. 3-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.