Book Description

Meet Clorinda!

Life on the farm is everything a cow like Clorinda could want, or so she thought. Then one Election Day, while up at dawn to travel to the distant city to cast her annual ballot, Clorinda is confused by the signs and stumbles into a performance of classical ballet instead. Bewilderment soon gives way to enchantment and she loses her heart to the magic of the dance. Clorinda's dream of becoming a bovine ballerina is set and she's headed for the big-city stage to start her career. Her mottoes, "Be bold and imaginative! Shoot for the sky!"

Robert Kinerk's witty and spirited verses combine with Steven Kellogg's effervescent and expansive artwork to introduce an endearing heroine. Irrepressible Clorinda will inspire standing ovations and cries of "ENCORE!" from picture-book readers of all ages. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Clorinda
This is a delightful book that mesmorized my 3 and 6 year old girls. The illustrations are wonderful as well as the rhyming story. The book is fun and has a wonderful message about working towards reaching a dream. I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

From the day she was born in the piano backstage at the Ballet Jolie, it was obvious that Prima was destined for greatness.

Her family fully expected her to become the lead dancer with the American Ballet Rodente. Such an honor should be enough for any mouselet, but Prima had even bigger plans. She wouldn't be satisfied until she could share her talent with all creatures -- even humans. But as any mouse with half a brain knows, the last thing you want to do around a human is draw attention to yourself. Did that stop Prima? Not on your tutu!

Reviews (6)

GOTTA' DANCE!
Jacquelyn Mitchard (The Deep End of the Ocean, The Most Wanted) joins the roster of bestselling authors who have turned their golden pens to children's literature.Ms. Mitchard also reads her first venture into young readers books with charm and wit.

Prima, we learn with her first words is destined for greatness."I as born to dance," she exults.Now, there aren't too many four legged ballerinas around, but that doesn't daunt this wee mouse.She's bent on becoming the lead dancer with the American Ballet Rodente.

While Prima envisions applause, tutus, and accomplished glissades, Meowsky, an alert kitten, envisions Prima as prime rib.Will this little ball of fur thwart Prima's ambitions?Listen and see.

"Starring Prima!" will be a sure hit with all elementary age girls who share the little mouse's desire to dance.

- Gail Cooke

Charming, But NOT E.B. White
While this has none of the depth of Charlotte's Web or Stuart Little,this is fun. Cutesy at times, but fun. Balletomanes will particularly enjoy this story.
Readers who enjoy this tale should discover the "Miss Bianca" stories of Marjorie Sharp--they were dumbed down by Disney, but the real "Rescuers" is a delight, and I'm sure Miss Bianca would have had season tickets for the Ballet Rodente!

A ballet of friendship and love
Jacquelyn Mitchard's wit and wordsmith shine through in this charming young adult novel about a precocious mouse named Prima who lives with her extended mouse family in the Ballet Jolie in New York City. She is the granddaughter of a world renown ballerina and yearns to perform on the stage herself. But she also is a rascal and imp and accomplishes the forbidden: she befriends a human, a young girl named Kristen. Mouse and girl share adventures filled with friendship and love, as well as that mixture of joy and sorrow known to all humans and to mice. Starring Prima is a delightful tale that will leave you applauding andjust possibly dabbing the corner of your eyes.

A truly magical world
Mitchard nails it here: this is a fun, funny, magical trip into a special little world that all of us, way back in the recesses of our imaginations, feel really DOES exist. One sparkling peek into the little world-within-a-world behind the scenes and scenery of a ballet company, and you'll never doubt again. What you knew as a kid (and what your kid knows yet) is true: Mice do talk, and love, and care. And oh, how they dance. Share this delightful, thoughtful book with your kids--and thus allow them to share a bit of their world with you, too. In the exchange, you'll win.

Great childrens book!
This is a great way to teach children the meaning of friendship, love for the differences in people, cultures and to always believe in your dream. Mitchard spins her word magic again and now for the children. It is a must buy for the prima's in your life. ... Read more

Book Description

Young players will refer to these instructive "how-to" guides again and again.Superguides are incisive "how-to" books that answer every question a young sports enthusiast might have! These comprehensive guides in vibrant new jackets and under the new Superguides series title are perfect for young athletes. Young Enthusiasts, the original best-selling series, sold over 3 million copies worldwide. Superguides give valuable advice on everything from suitable clothing to strategy development. Each book includes detailed information on rules, objectives, scoring, and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Very Nice Book
Anyone who loves ballet or is a ballet dancer will just love this book. It provides tons of information, all that will be useful to any ballet dancer. This book was also authored by Darcey Bussel, a professional ballet dancer. I found it to be extremely helpful and useful. Some things this book includes are what to wear, how to tie pointe shoe ribbons, lots of moves, a pointe work section, famous ballets and ballet dancers, and much, much, more! This is an excellent book!

Great for beginning ballerinas!
My seven-year-old is in her second semester of ballet, but has been picked to appear in the company's Christmas presentation. She seems to be taking the lessons and rehersals seriously. I got this book because I took two years of ballet, and wanted to remember the terms and positions and share with my daughter. We both love the book -- the pictures are clear, the descriptions and short and good. I would recommend this to any young lady starting out in ballet!

A lovely, lively guide.
Another instalment in what has become the season of the ballet books. Typical DK, this is beautiful and comprehensive. The photos are crisp, the information is accurate, and the whole presentation is attractive. The author is a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet. It is nice to have the author of a ballet book be a young dancer who is currently popular, rather than one close to retirement and more unfamiliar to the beginning students who would be most interested in the book. It is difficult to explain physical activities with words, movement with photos, so this book (or any other book on ballet) won't really teach one to dance, but will help with what to expect, and perhaps perfect movements and positions learned in class. This is also the only ballet book I have ever seen that teaches one how to tie ribbons on pointe shoes. Useful addresses, index, glossary at the end. The price is certainly right, and I could find no technical flaws, other than the few photos of dancers often identified by company and/or piece, but not always the individuals. It would also have been nice to see the author's credentials listed in the beginning of the book, rather than on the outside back cover.

This is a beautiful book!
This is one of the prettiest books on ballet I've ever seen. It's very informative and gives a good description of life in the ballet. I recommend this book to anyone with a passion for dancing!!

A beautifully illustrated children's book about ballet
This book caught my eye while I passed through the children's section in the library. Perhaps my childhood fantasy of being a ballerina led me to check it out. Costumes, practice, performance, and ballet history are a few of the topics covered. There are short biographies about dancers, choreographers, and composers along with a ballet timeline and summaries of some of the more famous ballets. My favorite illustration is a full page cross section of the Met that has descriptions of all of the rooms and happenings behind the scenes. Every time I see this book, I have to pick it up and look through it. I find something new each time. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Wow!
I take ballet as a supplement to my gymnastics training. This book is a great help, and has thourougly guided me along the way. All ballet dancers will find this book has a fantastic resource, with tons of helpful info and advice. My favorite part, like always, has to be the section with all the ballet moves. It provides detailed instructions with full-color photographs to explain each move. This book also has advice on what to wear, which ballet school is right for you, and how to sew ribbons on pointe shoes. It also includes a chapter on pointe work skills. All and all, this is a terrific book, and I think all ballet dancers will love it.

A great book for beginners
This book is great for children with a dream of being a ballet dance good for boys and girls!!!! I give it 100 stars!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

A young girl's discovery of ballet is combined with the magic of French Impressionist Edgar Degas's paintings to create a story as delicate and lovely as the ballerina herself. Drawn from the 1922 autobiography of prima ballerina Anna Pavlova, this reminiscence tells of her first trip to the ballet to see Sleeping Beauty with her mother. Her youthful words reflect the sweet wonder of the experience, as well as the gentle love between mother and child. The moment the breathless Pavlova voices her desire to dance on the stage one day, followed by her mother's response that she is "her silly little dear," is made all the more poignant by the reader's knowledge that this particular little girl's dream did come true.

Filled with the enchanting details of the ballet, and perfectly accompanied by the famous ballerina paintings of Degas, this is a book to be treasured by dancers, art lovers, and devotees of ballet alike. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Beginning of a Dream.....
Taken from her 1922 memoirs, Pages Of My Life, dancer Anna Pavlova tells of her first experience at the ballet as a little girl. Her simple and gentle words are full of imagery and passion as she relates the wonder of watching the Sleeping Beauty ballet...the sounds of Tchaikovsky's music, the mesmerizing beauty of the dancers, and the roar of the audience. On that thrilling afternoon her love affair with dance began, and a dream commenced that set the course of her life. Ms Pavlova's lovely text is enhanced by the magic and wonder of Edgar Degas' paintings. His artwork transports the reader back to this long ago performance, and together words and art bring that day to life. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, I Dreamed I Was A Ballerina includes short biographies of both Pavlova and Degas, to complete the story, and is a masterpiece to be treasured by aspiring ballerinas and artists, everywhere.

Beautiful
Being a girl who always had a secret wish to be a ballerina, I took to this book instantly, even as an "adult." The work of Degas is outstanding, and features not only his famous ballerinas, but cityscapes and musicians as well. The story was simple but stirringly powerful. Pavlova's story melds perfectly with Degas' paintings. This book is great for all dreamers. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

glamour. access. scandal.

Ever wonder what your favorite pop divas are like AFTER the cameras stop rolling? What do they do behind closed doors? What are their parties like? What do they think about? What do they fight about? What do they really want? And who do they REALLY hook up with?

Kelly Kimball spent a summer as a backup dancer for Darcy Barnes, the biggest pop star in the world. Kelly's got the real story on Darcy, her life, her family, and her entourage -- and she's spilling it here for the first time. If you think the life of a superstar can't possibly be all it's cracked up to be, you're wrong. It's all that and more. And it's all inside Kelly's tell-all diary: Confessions of a Backup Dancer. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

OK book, nothing special
I got this book yesterday and finished it this morning. It was extremely fast and easy to read. I think Shaw wanted to keep it in the form he got it in, without grammar or punctuation. This is REALLY annoying though, and really doesn't help the integrity of this "real" story, which tries to come off with a moral message but doesn't succeed. Also, I kept trying to figure out if this was a real story or not, or just fake, because it mentione Christina Aguleria, Britney Spears, Madonna, and Jessica Simpson. This book was okay, and since it went fast, I can't say it wasn't worth my time. There are really great teen books out there, but this isn't an exceptional one.

Loved it!
I got this book on Saturday afternoon and finished it Saturday night. It was FANTASTIC! If you love other teen books, then you'll love this. And now I really wanna know who in the heck are "Kelly Kimball" and "Darcy Barnes"!

YOU HAVE TO READ THIS NOW!!
I loved this book... it's definitely the funniest thing I've read all this year. In fact it's more like a movie than a book. It goes SOOO FAST!!!

I definitely think it's probably at least PARTLY true because the way the character talks is just so honest and real. And plus, some of the gossip in it is stuff that I had heard about also! You have to get this book. I definitely think it's about Britney Spears or one of those girls........

You DEFINITELY have to read it

Will the Real Kelly Kimball Please Stand Up?
I really enjoyed this book, which was a great easy read, written in true form of a 17-year-old girl, where the use of proper grammar and capitalization is optional. It left me wondering, though, how much of it was true... and wanting to know more about the real Kelly Kimball, (or at least the girl who inspired her)!!! I'd love to know more about the story behind the book! Oh well, fun summer read. Fast paced, in diary, IM and email form, funny, good story.

Lots of fun!
With all of the subtle digs at "today's young pop divas", this book is hysterical....and a great summer read ... Read more

Book Description

"These pictures of the students of Ballet Tech are beautiful and true. They show a new generation of American ballet dancersas varied as America." --Mikhail Baryshnikov

Through a striking combination of color and black-and-white photography, Jim Varriale takes readers inside Ballet Tech, a school where city kids ofall shapes, sizes, and backgrounds have the chance to become professional ballet dancers.

Ballet Tech is America's first public school just for ballet. It has a uniquephilosophy: to find dance talent in the New York City public-school system. Each year, more than thirty thousand elementary-school students areauditioned, and about a thousand are invited to take classes, free of charge. Jim Varriale follows the children's training from their weekly beginningclasses through the full-time schooling they receive as young adults. With quotes and candid photographs, he shows the elements that shape their new lives as dancers--barre work, toe shoes, demanding teachers, long subway rides, camaraderie, competition, performances, and, for the few with exceptional talent and perseverance, places in professional dance companies.

Like Ballet Tech itself, this book will encourage new groups of childrenfrom diverse backgrounds to love dance and to appreciate the power it hasto change lives. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Visually exciting with clear descriptive text
You can see the joy on these kids faces. And the text seems to get to the heart of what dance is all about.

An excellent new book about the training of young dancers.
In images and words, photographer Jim Varriale has captured the essence of dance -- the irresistable urge to move to music with every inch of one's being -- in Kids Dance: The Students of Ballet Tech. His photographs capture Eliot Feld's scholarship students' infectious passion; their unselfconscious delight in dance as a means of personal expression; and their willingness to embrace the discipline and study that makes "jumping for joy" on stage a very real possibility. Attractively designed, the book is very well written. Varriale's text is both simply stated and engaging, offering just enough explanation and detail to complement the magical photographs they accompany. In repose and on the move, these NYC public school children invite the reader to share their hard work and dreams. This is a new kind of "ballet" book, a collectible for all dance lovers, regardless of age. I cannot recommend it too highly. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

very good book
I truly enjoyed this book. The books illustrations were great.I have read many books on Degas and this was one of the best.I would recommend it to any one .

Marie in Fourth Position
The author beautifully brings to life Marie and Monsieur Degas. My five-year-old daughter especially liked the illustrations, which are done in a Degas-like style. This book will make you want to run out to the museum to see the Degas sculpture in person. My daughter liked the book even better than Degas and the Little Dancer, a similar book by Laurence Anholt which I believe takes a few more liberties with the facts but which we also liked. The Anholt book, unlike the Littlesugar book, has reproductions of several Degas works, which were a very nice touch. ... Read more

Book Description

Ellie Brown is so excited to be returning to The Royal Ballet Lower School forher second term. She can’t wait until classes start—she and her fellow classmates are finallylearning to dance on pointe! But a new girl, Isabelle Armand, throws everyone off. Isabelle isfrom France and believes that the French way is the only way—when it comes to clothing,food…and especially ballet. Isabelle is a flawless dancer, but she’s terribly unfriendly. How canEllie and her friends warm to Isabelle when she keeps giving everyone the cold shoulder? ... Read more

Book Description

The bugs in Coach Caterpillar's gym class are learning a new dance. But Centipede can't do it! If he can't learn the directions left, right, forward, and backward, this class will be one big FLOP!

Book Description

Madison is out playing in her yard when she happens upon a piece of rope. Determined to find out just where the rope leads, she and her little black cat follow the line of the rope. They zig and zag and shimmy-shammy from one dance step to the next, from one adventure to another. Charming illustrations and jaunty rhyming text will have readers and listeners singing and tapping their feet as this special line takes Madison and her cat on a wild ramble and eventually safely back to where they ought to be! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

great illustrations
This is a wonderful example of how a child's mind works. It brings the reader on a trip through a little girl's imaginitive world and illustrates just how many places her little mind can take her all before she has lunch! ... Read more

Book Description

The girl in red, the girl in yellow, the girl in blue, and the boy in black and white are all set to stir up the rainbow. Watch them create a living kaleidoscope, step by step by step. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful way to teach kids to read names of colors.
It's appropriate for age 3 & 4 year olds to learn to read the entire book by themselves. Wonderful as a first reader! ... Read more

Book Description

Cha cha cha! Do you know how many different dances there are? Elmo does! Toddlers will love lifting the flaps and discovering all the fun Elmo has when he gets down and boogies. ... Read more

Book Description

Illustrated with more than fifty breathtaking color and black-and-white photographs, I Am a Dancer tells the inspiring on- and offstage story of thirteen-year-old Eva Lipman, a student at the prestigious School of American Ballet. Readers will be thrilled to follow in Eva's ballet slippers--from chubby, tutued toddler to her current career as a young ballerina in New York City. With a charming combination of beautiful photos and Eva's own words, I Am a Dancer offers a truly personal glimpse of a highly dedicated ballerina's glamorous--and sometimes not-so-glamorous--life, from the bouquets and blisters to the glare of the spotlight and the long, lonely hours of practice. A very special book for girls and ballet fans of all ages! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Perfect mix of a young girl's dream with measured reality.
Wonderful photos! This book is an enchanting blend of the stuff that a young girl's dreams are made of and the real work that it takes to make them come true. Anyone with a dream, young or old, can benefit by experiencing the one so marvelously shared in this book.

This book was an uplifting experience for a grandmother.
Jane Feldman has captured the essence of a young girl's dream. The storyline is faithful to the development of a dream. The photographs are truly beautiful. This is Central Park as we wish it would be. I am eagerly awaiting the publication of "I am a Rider". Future dreams may be "I am" an astronaut, a teacher, even a volunteer. The list is endless, and I expect to hear and see more of Jane Feldman. ... Read more

Book Description

This Level 2 book is perfect for children who are beginning to read alone.

It's the day of the big performance at Laura's ballet school. Suddenly disaster strikes! Can Laura help save the show? Longer sentences and an expanded vocabulary make this series of 48-page books slightly more challenging: Level 2 is appropriate for children who have started to read but still need help. Information boxes full of background information will stimulate inquisitive minds. These books contain between 700 and 850 words, and they are approximately 70 percent pictures and 30 percent text.The Dorling Kindersley Readers combine an enticing visual layout with high-interest, easy-to-read stories to captivate and delight young bookworms who are just getting started. Written by leading children's authors and compiled in consultation with literacy experts, these engaging books build reader confidence along with a lifelong appreciation for nonfiction, classic stories, and biographies. There is a DK Reader to interest every child at every level, from preschool to grade 4. ... Read more

Book Description

The cows in Lily’s herd are always dignified as they walk from the barn to the pasture. But Lily would much rather prance and dance! One day Lily decides to leave the farm and venture out on her own.

All over the world—from New York City to Spain to Senegal—Lily learns new dances and makes wonderful friends. But none of the dances are quite right for a cow, and soon Lily starts to miss home. Will she ever find a place where she fits in?

Spirited, funny, and utterly uplifting, Prancing, Dancing Lily is sure to delight anyone who has ever felt different from the herd. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Adorable Story - Works for all ages!.
This adorable story was enjoyed by the entire family! We laughed out loud when we first saw the book and we laughed out loud when we shared it with the children. It is clever and beautifully presented. Smiles lingered long after the story was over. Everything is marvelous: the title, the message, the text, and the illustrations. It has quickly become a favorite at our house and we were inspired to try out many of the dances, expecially the Conga Line. This book made a charming addition to our home library. In the Fall, Lily will be taking another trip...to my elementary school classroom! Applause, Applause for PRANCING DANCING LILY!!!

A perfect picture book
"Prancing, Dancing Lily" is bound to become a picture book classic. A perfect marriage between Marsha Arnold's charming text (complete with rhymed messages from her unsinkable cow heroine) and John Mander's laugh-out-loud illustrations, this book will have children prancing and dancing right along with Lily. And they'll even pick up a little geography along the way! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

For the DANCER in EVERY CHILD
My four-year-old niece is forever parading around the house, showing her fascination with the dance. When I saw this book on the library shelf, I had to share it with her.

Each photo freezes a movement that reflects the simple yet complex nature of this means of expression. Dancer Jones fluidity and flexibility is captured for all to see and marvel at his execution.

The text is simply engaging and is an inspiration to those that wish to leap across the stage.

Great for ALL dancers...
I really love to use this book for my creative movement and modern classes of all ages... It is full of wonderful photos of Bill T. Jones in different shapes and poses and expressions, with short captions about how "I am a dancer. I want to dance." Then he proceeds to show us the different ways to use our bodies to express what dance means to us. I really recommend it for your dance library.

Dance! Dance! Dance!
The first time I showed this book to my 23 month daughter, she had me read it to her 8 times. The next day, her day care teacher asked me if she had been to a dance class over the weekend. Apparently, she attempted to emulate the stretches she saw in the book. She was enthralled with the wonderful ways that Bill T.Jones moves. Indeed, she simply could not believe that a body could move that way, so she rotated the book to meet her view of reality. The photographs in this book are exquisite, and can be an inspiration to any age. ... Read more