Children's book on ballet

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Children's BooksAn Usborne Guide to Ballet by Annabel Thomas. Paperback, 48 pages, illustrated throughout with full-color drawings.
A practical and comprehensive introduction for beginners to the world of ballet, including historical information, ballet training, who's who in a ballet company, basic ballet positions, steps and exercises, how a ballet is choreographed and much more.
Ballerina: My Story by Darci Kistler with Alicia Kistler. Paperback, 123 pages, black & white photographs.

The youngest dancer ever to be made a principal dancer at the New York City Ballet tells the story of her amazing career. Ballet by Kate Castle. Hardcover, 64 pages, illustrated throughout with full-color drawings.
This behind-the-scenes look at the world of ballet includes information on major dance companies and favorite ballets, on dancers' training, backstage activities, costumes, set design, and more.
Ballet by Kay Tichenor. Paperback, illustrated by Helen Kunic.
This coloring book also contains historical information about 16 famous ballets, including Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Petrouchka, and Billy the Kid.
Ballet and Dance: An Usborne Guide by Annabel Thomas and Lucy Smith. Paperback, 96 pages, color illustrations.
A practical and informative introduction to dance (modern, jazz, tap) and ballet for beginners, which explores their histories as well as trends and techniques.

Ballet of the Elephants by Leda Schubert and illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker (Roaring Book Press). Hard cover, full color
illustrations.
This illustrated children's book recounts the 1942 collaboration of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, composer Igor Stravinsky, and Balanchine that resulted in the 50-elephant “Circus Polka” led by Madoc, at the time the largest Indian elephant in America, ridden by Zorina, the famed American ballerina and Hollywood star. Suggested as appropriate for ages 4-8, this book will lay claim to anyone possessed of a bright and curious imagination. Carnival of the Animals by John Lithgow. 34 pages, color illustrations, includes CD.
John Lithgow's word play, inspired by Camille Saint-Saëns' 1886 composition, provides a narrative arc to the piece for the first time. Lithgow created the text for the New York City Ballet production of Carnival of the Animals, created by Christopher Wheeldon, Resident Choreographer. Mr. Lithgow narrated and performed the role of "Mabel Buntz," the school nurse, at the premiere performances in 2003. This delightful children's book is 11-3/8" by 9-3/4" with colorful, witty illustrations by Boris Kulikov. Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, it has 34 pages and includes a CD of Saint-Saëns' suite, performed by Chamber Music Los Angeles under the direction of Bill Elliott, complete with John Lithgow's recitation of the text.
Coppelia: The Story of the Ballet Text by Linda M. Jennings, full-color illustrations by Krystyna Turska. Hardcover, unpaginated.
Dance Me a Story: Twelve Tales from the Classic Ballets with text and illustrations by Jane Rosenberg and an Introduction by Merrill Ashley. Paperback, 48 illustrations, 24 in color.
For children of all ages, the author has retold 12 great ballets as fairy tales—stories set to music and told through the medium of dance. Includes Cinderella, Don Quixote, La Fille Mal Gardee, Firebird, Giselle, The Nutcracker, Petrouchka, Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and La Sylphide.
Dancing to America with text by Ann Morris and full-color photographs by Paul Kolnik. Hardcover, 40 pages.
The moving story of a young Russian dancer studying at the School of American Ballet.
Firebird, adapted and illustrated in full-color by Rachel Isadora. Hardcover, unpaginated.
This retelling of the classic Russian fairy tale was inspired by George Balanchine's magical one-act ballet, says the author, a former ballerina.
I Am a Dancer with text by Eva Lieman and color and black & white photos by Jane Feldman. Hardcover, 36 pages.
As told in her own words, this is the story of an aspiring professional ballerina from her studies at the School of American Ballet to her performances in The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty when she was 13.

I Can Read about Ballet by Erica Frost. Paperback, 45 pages, with illustrations by Diane Martin.
An introduction for very young readers that tells them what ballet is and describes the basic terms and the five positions.
The Illustrated Book of Ballet Stories by Barbara Newman. Hardcover, 64 pages, full-color illustrations.
Includes a ballet music CD. Foreward by Darcey Bussell. This retelling of five ballet favorites—The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Coppelia, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker—also includes information on technical terms and ballet music.
My Ballet Book by Kate Castle. Hardcover, 61 pages, illustrated with color photos.

Moving from studio to stage, this book looks behind the scenes of the English National Ballet's production of The Nutcracker. Information on ballet technique, costumes, make-up, as well as a brief history of ballet is included. Of Swans, Sugarplums, and Satin Slippers: Ballet Stories for Children by Violette Verdy. Hardcover, 80 pages, 20 full-color illustations by Marcia Brown.
Former New York City Ballet principal dancer, Violette Verdy, retells for children six of ballet's most beloved stories: The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Firebird, and Giselle. Each tale has an introduction giving a brief history of the ballet and some personal reminiscences by Ms. Verdy.
The Random House Book of Stories from the Ballet retold by Geraldine McCaughrean, with full-color illustrations by Angela Barrett. Hardcover, 112 pages.
Includes retellings of Swan Lake, Coppelia, Giselle, Cinderella, La Sylphide, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Firebird, Petrouchka, and The Sleeping Beauty.
The Right Moves: A Dancer's Training by Daphne Hurford. Hardcover, 238 pages, illustrated with black & white photos.
The story of a teenage boy from Dallas, Texas, as he faces the daily rigors of life as a student at the School of American Ballet.
The Silver Slippers by Elizabeth Koda-Callan. Hardcover, full-color drawings, unpaginated.
A young girl seems to be always out of step in following her dream to become the prima ballerina of her dancing school, until her mother's gift—a silver charm of ballet slippers—gives her the confidence she needs to succeed. Each book includes a ballet slipper charm on a chain. The Steadfast Tin Soldier by Hans Christian Andersen, retold by Tor Seidler and illustrated by Fred Marcellino. Hardcover, 28 pages, full-color illustrations.
A beautifully illustrated retelling of the beloved story—and ballet—of the toy soldier and the paper ballerina he loves from afar.
Starting Ballet by Helen Edom and Nicola Katrak. Paperback, 32 pages.
A practical guide for very young dancers that helps them try out some first ballet movements and shapes.
Swan Lake adapted and illustrated with watercolor paintings by Rachel Isadora. Hardcover, unpaginated.
Isadora, a former ballerina, retells the story of the classic ballet.
Tchaikovsky: The Ballet Suites by David Foil. Hardcover, 44 pages, full color photographs of New York City Ballet by Costas.
This book comes with a compact disc that includes highlights from Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker, played by the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Efrem Katz. The text, which includes biographical and background information on the composer and his times, provides an annotated minute-by-minute commentary on
the music. To Dance: A Ballerina’s Graphic Novel. A memoir by Siena Cherson Siegel with artwork by Mark Siegel. Hardcover. Complete full color illustrations.
Here is an original firsthand book about a real young dancer’s beginnings. This true story starts in Puerto Rico, moves to Boston and New York, the School of American Ballet, New York City Ballet and beyond. It is a magical, imaginative portrait of growing up in the world of dance. Publication date is September 2006. It is part of the Atheneum Books for Young Readers series of Simon & Schuster.
Tutu by Audrey Chevance. Hardcover, unpaginated, full-color pastel illustrations.
The story of Isabelle, a young dancer, is filled with behind-the-scene details of ballet class, costume shop and performance.
Twins on Toes: A Ballet Debut by Joan Anderson. Hardcover, unpaginated, full-color photographs by George Ancona.
A glimpse into the exciting and challenging world of The School of American Ballet, as seen through the eyes of 17-year-old twins, Amy and Laurel Foster.
What It's Like To Be a Ballet Dancer by Janet Craig. Illustrations by Barbara Todd. Paperback, 32 pages.
Written for the very young reader, this book follows a dancer as she teaches a class for boys and girls, rehearses for an upcoming ballet, and dances in an evening performance.
The World of Ballet by Judy Tatchell. Paperback, 64 pages, full-color photos and drawings throughout.
This introductory guide for children looks at the history of ballet and its most famous dancers and choreographers. It also gives a behind-the-scene look at what it's like to be a dancer, what goes on in a ballet class, and in professional companies.
The Young Person's Guide to the Ballet with Music on CD from The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and The Sleeping Beauty, book by Anita Ganeri. Hardcover, 55 pages.
An introduction in words, music and pictures to classical dance.
Zorina Ballerina by Enzo Giannini. Hardcover, full-color illustrations, unpaginated.
In this charming picture book for young readers, Zorina, the circus elephant who dreams of dancing in the spotlight, gets her chance in Jerome Robbins's Circus Polka.