Ballet dancing -- Juvenile fiction. |
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Audience | Shelf Location | Material Type | Shelf Number | Current Location |
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Kids/Juvenile | Picture books | Book | E HAM | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Rosie's off to her ballet lesson in her beautiful pink slippers.And it's a day she'll never forget She learns the basic positions. She learns to point her toes like a sharp pencil, and hold her hands like a ballerina. She learns how to plie, saute, and curtsey. But best of all, she learns how much fun ballet can be Rosie dreams of being a ballerina one day. So when her mother buys her the prettiest pair of pale pink ballet slippers she' s ever seen, she can hardly wait for her first lesson. The big day finally arrives and Rosie meets Madame, Miss Melody (who plays the piano), and her new classmates Tommy, Sally, Chuck, Rani, and Rudolph. Although they do their best to follow along as Madame teaches them to point their toes, plie, and saute, sometimes their excitement gets the better of them. By the final curtsy, Rosie already feels like a real ballerina. Maria Teresa Meloni' s extraordinary illustrations convey all the joyous excitement of a little girl's first ballet lesson, as Rosie and her friends seem to dance off the pages. 1996 ' Pick of the Lists' (ABA)
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-KWhile this book about a little girl's first ballet lesson is undoubtedly pretty and pink, it's also refreshingly realistic. Hampshire's play-by-play narrative is matter-of-fact, but there's poetry and childlike immediacy in her writing, too-the accompanist's fingers "...run up and down the piano keys like mice'' and one of the students "...puts her arms out to the side like a scarecrow." Madame comes across as a kind, yet firm sort of teacher, and her attitude rings true. She conducts the class with energy and command, describing movements with vivid simplicity. Meloni's paintings are photoreal and charming at the same time. Rosie is beautiful and brown-skinned; the other dancers are lovely, too, but even those who are more experienced don't possess any great level of skill or unbelievable natural grace. What's importantand evidentis that they're all having a great time. Children who have taken ballet will surely relate to this story, and it's a wonderful introduction for those who haven't.Vanessa Elder, School Library Journal (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Meloni's luminous portraits of exuberant children entice readers into this sweet and spirited picture book about a girl's first ballet lesson. Outfitted in her brand-new pink slippers and leotard, Rosie joins a diverse, multicultural class of eager boys and girls as they learn sautés and pliés under the watchful eye of Madame. By lesson's end, Rosie has learned many ballet basics and, more importantly, had a great time. Hampshire, a British author and actress who trained as a dancer, plays up the joy of movement in her kid-like descriptions of dance positions and steps. Students point their toes "like sharp pencils," hold their skirts out "like butterflies" and stand with backs "straight as ironing boards." Skipping, jumping and "dancing like animals" are also part of Madame's fun-filled methods. Meloni's (Old Father Christmas) illustrations skillfully capture the text's playful mood and the children's boisterous energy, as well as a few tender scenes of what appears to be grace-in-progress. Young readers will take away a healthy dollop of nuts-and-bolts ballet terminology and intensified enthusiasm for dance. Ages 4-7. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Booklist Review
Ages 4-7. There are lots of books about ballet lessons, but what sets this one apart is the marvelous artwork by Meloni. Little Rosie is thrilled when her mother buys her a pair of ballet slippers, for it means that she can begin lessons. She meets her new classmates (boys as well as girls), learns the basic positions, and feels like a star after class is finished. Hampshire, a British actress who trained as a dancer, adds many charming, realistic touches to the story, as when the teacher puts red stars on the students' right feet and blue on their left, so they'll be able to do the steps properly. As nice as the story is, it is still the artwork that brings the book to life. Meloni's realistic children are full of trepidation, wonder, and, finally, delight as they master the first steps of ballet. At times, the kids seem so real they almost twirl off the pages. This captures the hope and pleasure that ballet lessons have always brought to budding ballerinas. (Reviewed April 1, 1996)0060264667Ilene Cooper