April 2, 2012
As she did in Lili at Ballet (1993), Isadora presents an understated story introducing ballet basics—such as girls’ and boys’ apparel and the classic five positions—deftly streamlining both text and illustrations for a very young audience. Loosely outlined in pencil and ink and wearing dance garb whose radiant colors pop in each minimalist scene, Bea and the diverse group of toddlers in her ballet class are cherubic and infectiously enthusiastic. The informal, staccato narrative offers an effective mix of voice, incorporating third-person (“Mr. Paul plays the piano for class”), second (“We clap hands to the music!”), and first: “I love to dance!” proclaims Bea in one of several speech balloons, the only sources of color other than the children’s clothing. The visual tempo also varies; a static spread that shows four closeup, labeled feet placements (flat, relevé, point, flex) is followed by energetic scenes depicting the dancers performing various moves. A former dancer and Caldecott Honor artist (Ben’s Trumpet), Isadora conveys the joy of ballet in a book that’s sure to buoy the confidence of beginning dancers. Ages 1–5.
April 1, 2012
It's a delightful day at ballet class for preschooler Bea and her dance mates. Isadora decorates Bea's ponytails with pink ribbons and then introduces readers to the special clothing that boys and girls wear, the steps they practice and the studio where they dance. Readers can see the five basic positions, how feet point and flex and what fun leaping and landing "like a cat" can be. The narrative steps along smartly with just one or two sentences per page and speech bubbles for conversation. The children are outlined in black against white space, and their diversity shows through hair styles and facial features. A colorful array of leotards and dance shoes adds just the right touch of pizzazz. In one double-page spread, the boys and girls sit in a circle and clap hands as they listen to music, an activity that the nursery-school crowd will certainly recognize. Veteran author and illustrator Isadora has produced many wonderful stories of the ballet for young readers, including the Lili at Ballet series, and this one is as lovely and accomplished. Endowing the dancers with chubby legs and an occasional stumble just raises the irresistibility factor. Enjoy and dance along. (Picture book. 2-6)
COPYRIGHT(2012) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
May 1, 2012
PreS-K-A precious primer from the first lady of ballet books for children. Isadora's pencil, ink, and oils on paper present the preschoolers in black, white, and gray line with bursts of color in wardrobe and accessories, which she explains piece by piece, for each gender. The class instruction includes labels for the barre, mirror, piano, the five classic positions, and four foot movements (point, flex, flat, releve). There are chuckles when Sara wears boots and later gets dizzy, but the students' camaraderie is charming and includes a fluffy white dog as mascot. Youngsters will no doubt be anxious for Bea's promised, "See you next week!" to revisit this warm and inviting ballet class.-Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA
Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
May 15, 2012
Preschool-K This bright, effective, inclusive book is the perfect introduction to ballet for toddlers, who will instantly recognize the peanut-stomached and chubby-legged bodies as their own. Isadora, who trained at the School of American Ballet in New York, makes this cheery, here's-how-it's-done offering effortlessly authoritative. The leotards, tights, shirts, skirts, and shoes that children wear to class are expertly depicted with minimalist yet accurate pencil, ink, and oil illustrations. The book also introduces readers to the class pianist, feet positions, leg positions like arabesque and attitude, and daily rituals, from starting class by clapping along to music to the grand reverence, or bow, that ends every session. This isn't dry, eitherbits of humor pepper the pages ( Sara gets dizzy ). As delightful for toddlers as Isadora's Lili at Ballet series is for their grade-school counterparts. Fans of Katharine Holabird's Angelina Ballerina series ought to rejoice, too.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)
July 1, 2012
For the youngest dance enthusiasts, this is a pitch-perfect introduction to ballet. Preschooler Bea attends class with four girls and two boys. They demonstrate the five ballet positions and show four ways dancers move their feet as well as a split, an arabesque, and an attitude. The illustrations' understated style keeps the focus on the children, each of whom is a distinctive character.
(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
Starred review from July 1, 2012
For the youngest dance enthusiasts, this is a pitch-perfect introduction to ballet. Little Bea goes to ballet class with four other girls and two boys, all of whom appear to be about three years old (judging from their rounded tummies). Before class begins, we see an itemized list of all the things Bea wears, and all the things her friend Sam wears. We take a peek inside the studio (where everything is also labeled) and meet the piano player, Mr. Paul, and the teacher, Ms. Nancy. Class begins with a warm-up exercise where the children clap in rhythm, and then Bea's classmates demonstrate the five ballet positions and show us four ways dancers move their feet as well as a split, an arabesque, and an attitude. But these are tiny dancers, after all, so the most fun is to be had from spinning around and around. Isadora's illustrations are done in pencil-and-ink drawings with color highlights in oil paint, and her understated style keeps the focus on the children, each of whom is a distinctive character. She skillfully balances basic information with realistic childlike characters -- one boy, for example, quietly opts out of holding hands with his classmates in the end-of-class goodbye bow, but no one makes a fuss about it. Nothing can dampen Bea's enthusiasm for ballet, and she shares it with aplomb. kathleen t. horning
(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)