Ballerina Swan

Kent, Allegra     Ballerina Swan    

 Holiday House     2012  unp   $16.95     

978-0-8234-2373-6       elem   VG     Animal stories

     

Geared toward elementary students, this new title about a swan named Sophie who wants to be part of a ballet class will be appreciated by girls and boys who enjoy ballet.  The author includes a glossary of helpful ballet terms before the story.  The glossary includes definitions and pronunciations.  Students see Sophie through the glass windows of the dance studio, and the more she watches the girls learning the moves, the more she desires to be a part of the group.  When Sophie tries to join the class with instructor Madam Myrtle, Madam refuses to have Sophie in her group.  One day, Madam Myrtle is out and Miss Willow replaces her.  Under Miss Willow, Sophie is able to dance and learn the same ballet moves as the other girls.  Through Sophie’s hard work and determination, she learns all the moves and is able to secure a part in the upcoming performance of Swan Lake.  When Sophie thinks she has not been cast in the play, she is disappointed, but then she learns that a special part has been written for her, as the swan.

This book includes beautiful illustrations created in watercolor, a helpful glossary of ballet terms, and an appropriate amount of text on each page.  There is also an Accelerated Reader quiz, quiz #150118.    

     

VG    Charleen Forba-Mayer    Ballet stories