Fiona Finkelstein was born to be a ballerina--if she can get over her stage fright, that is. The first in the feisty and endearing Not-So-Ordinary Girl trilogy.
More than catching fireflies, more than eating triple-hot fudge sundaes, and even more than waking up on the first day of summer vacation, Fiona Finkelstein wants to become a ballerina. There's just one problem: In her last recital, she starred as the unforgettable Fiona VOMITstein--her "performance" went all over the stage, and all over Benevolence Castles's cancan costume.
Can Fiona overcome her fears and blossom as a big-time ballerina in "The Nutcracker," even in a snowstorm? Or will she be the only person in her family to have the flat-out worst case of stage fright ever?
"Originally published as "Fiona Finkelstein, Big-Time Ballerina .""

Pack your bag for ballet class with Angelina Ballerina in this interactive novelty book--featuring three lift-the-flaps, a foil mirror, and a pop-up finale! More than anything, Angelina loves to dance. Her dream is to become a prima ballerina one day! But first, Angelina has to get to dance recital to practice for a big performance. Like every serious dancer, Angelina needs her trusted ballet bag to carry all her dance essentials, plus everything in between! (c)2021 Helen Craig Ltd. and Katharine Holabird. The Angelina Ballerina name and character and the dancing Angelina logo are trademarks of HIT Entertainment Limited, Katharine Holabird and Helen Craig.

From the The Story Orchestra series, a beautifully illustrated first piano sound book! Press the keys to learn 8 famous classical tunes from the story books. While other books in the series play famous pieces of classical music, in this new Story Orchestra title, young readers can now play the tunes themselves! Color and shape codes correspond to the 14 keys, so kids can learn easy 8-bar, one-finger melodies, so even the youngest child can learn to play music with this simple method. For best results, playing readers the original piece first is recommended so children can familiarise themselves with the pacing of the tune. Each song includes an enchanting illustration and description of the part of the story that the music is telling along with playing tips. All the favourite characters from the series are there to encourage young musicians as they play their first notes with the sound of a piano. I Can Play: The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy - The Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky) The Dance of the Reed Flutes - The Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky) Flight of the Swans - Swan Lake (Tchaikovsky) Dance of the Cygnets - Swan Lake (Tchaikovsky) Royal March of the Lions - The Carnival of the Animals (Saint-Saens) The Elephant - The Carnival of the Animals (Saint-Saens) The Swan - The Carnival of the Animals (Saint-Saens) Spring Dawn Chorus - The Four Seasons (Vivaldi) Readers should press firmly on the pages to activate the keys, encouraging them to explore the possibilities of making music!

It's time for Mr Potato's Super Fantastic Dance Competition! Peppa, Suzy Sheep, Mandy Mouse and Rebecca Rabbit can't wait to perform their dance. Will they win a prize? And can Peppa persuade Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig to join in, too? Peppa and George love dancing. Everyone loves dancing!

This is an account of a search for ways to teach dance to the profoundly deaf in a variety of schools and settings. The author describes the methods and games she devised with the children to heighten their awareness of rhythm, music and the breath inherent in every dance movement. This work shows the author's gradual realization that knowledge of music is the basis for dance teaching, and that this knowledge can also enhance the training of hearing dancers. This concept led the author to the conviction that, for the hearing as well as for the deaf, dance and music can be an alternative way of knowing, and an opportunity for children to learn to express their unarticulated feelings and thoughts, to communicate, to socialise and to explore the world in which they live. A video cassette is also available.

Discover the spellbinding magic of Swan Lake in this musical retelling of the ballet - push the button on each beautiful scene to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing from Tchaikovsky's score. This tale of a prince, a beautiful swan princess and an evil sorcerer begins in a woodland clearing far, far away. It is Prince Siegfried's 21st birthday. He is playing games with his friends when his mother, the Queen, arrives to tell him he needs to stop having fun and start looking after the kingdom. Prince Siegfried dreams of running away. He follows an enchanting flock of swans to a clearing by a lake, where four of the little cygnets begin to dance. The most beautiful swan transforms into the Princess Odette, who tells him that she has been cursed to turn into a swan by day and return to her natural form at night by the evil sorcerer Von Rothbart. As the prince and Odette dance, they begin to fall in love. The story follows Prince Siegfried as he attends his birthday party, is tricked into proposing to Von Rothbart's daughter Odile and returns to the lake to battle the evil sorcerer. Will the prince be reunited with his swan princess? As you and your little one journey through the magical scenes, you will press the buttons to hear 10 excerpts from the ballet's music. Readers should press firmly on the pages to activate the sounds, encouraging interactive learning and introducing children to this beautiful piece of music. At the back of the book, find a short biography of the composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, with details about his composition of Swan Lake. Next to this, you can replay the musical excerpts and, for each of them, read a discussion of the instruments, rhythms and musical techniques that make them so powerful. A glossary defines musical terms. The Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for children through gorgeously illustrated retellings of classic ballet, opera and program music stories paired with 10-second sound clips of orchestras playing from their musical scores. With The Story Orchestra keyboard sound books, children can play the famous melodies themselves with the sound of a real grand piano. Also available from the Story Orchestra series: The Magic Flute, I Can Play (vol 1), Carnival of the Animals, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker and Four Seasons in One Day. Manufacturer's note: please pull the white tab out of the back of the book before use. Sound buttons require a firm push in exact location to work, which may be hard for young children. All sound clips are 10 seconds long. The perfect primer to introduce children to classical music.

A young girl learns the Hora at her cousin's wedding, then brings her new moves to dance class. Chloe is our step-dance star. Tap-tap go her toes. Up go her knees, reaching almost as high as her chin. When Chloe finished her routine last week, I felt Madame's eyes on me. "Isadora, would you like a turn? she asked. More than anything, I wanted to say yes, but I had nothing to share. If only I could shine like Lucy, Mateo, and Chloe. On the way home, Grandma could see I needed some cheering up. "Why such a sad face? she asked. "Everyone in class has a special dance," I said. "Everyone except me!" " I have a feeling you may have one very soon," Grandma said, "maybe even this weekend." I knew she was thinking about the wedding. On Sunday, Cousin Rachel was getting married to Adam. Excerpts from Deborah Kalb's Interview with Gloria Koster: DK: What inspired you to write Dance the Hora, Isadora!, and how did you create your character Isadora? GK: I wanted to write a wedding story in which the lens is focused on a child. While Isadora experiences the joy of the traditional dance and is able to teach it to her friends, she isn't happy throughout the story. It was important for me to imagine a real girl who initially experiences disappointment and who gains confidence with the support of a loving adult. DK: What do you think the book says about dancing, and the hora specifically, in Jewish tradition? GK: Though I have two left feet myself, I adore dancing. It's a way to clear my head, and I think Isadora's cares also melt away when she dances. The hora is new to her and also to her dance teacher and classmates, but everyone embraces the hora--typically, though not always, a Jewish dance--as happily as all the dances that reflect a variety of cultures (Latin dancing, step dancing, hip-hop, etc.) DK: What do you hope kids take away from the book? GK: I want kids to feel a kinship with Isadora, who is in a bit of a funk at first but feels like a superstar at the end. An the fact that she shares her traditional dance in a more secular setting will hopefully encourage all kids to proudly share things from their own cultures or religions.

Pirouette into Angelina Ballerina's enchanting world with this adorable board book about Angelina's wonderful day--a day full of dancing! Today is a dancing day for Angelina! She brushes her teeth while practicing her plies, she points her toes while she eats breakfast, and she leaps across the schoolyard. Soon it's her favorite time of day--ballet class! But the dancing doesn't stop there...Angelina's family takes her to a real ballet performance with many more special treats to follow. It is a cozy end to a very happy day because the only thing better than dancing is being with family! (c) 2020 Helen Craig Ltd and Katharine Holabird. The Angelina Ballerina name and character and the dancing Angelina logo are trademarks of HIT Entertainment Limited, Katharine Holabird, and Helen Craig.

Discover the joy of dancing and the importance of family, whatever your culture, ability or style with Luna, by award-winning Waterstones Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho, the third book in the Luna Loves... series. When Luna dances, she feels like the world's volume turns up, like all colours brighten, like sunlight sparkles behind every cloud. But when she takes her dance exam she ducks, dives, spins and... falls. Luna thinks she can't be a real dancer now. Can Luna's family convince her otherwise? Celebrate every culture and every style of dance with Luna, featuring a glorious fold out carnival page. Other books in the Luna Loves... series: Luna Loves Library Day Luna Loves Art Luna Loves Books

Hope in a Ballet Shoe tells the story of Michaela DePrince. Growing up in war-torn Sierra Leone, she witnessed atrocities that no child ever should. Her father was killed by rebels and her mother died of famine. Sent to an orphanage, Michaela was mistreated and saw the brutal murder of her favourite teacher. Then Michaela and her best friend are adopted by an American couple, and Michaela begins to take dance lessons. But life in the States isn't without difficulties. Unfortunately, tragedy can find its way to Michaela in America, too, and her past can feel like it's haunting her. The world of ballet is a racist one, and Michaela has to fight for a place amongst the ballet elite, hearing the words 'America's not ready for a black girl ballerina.' And yet . . . Today, Michaela DePrince is an international ballet star, dancing for The Dutch National Ballet at the age of nineteen. This is a heart-breaking, inspiring autobiography by a teenager who shows us that, beyond everything, there is always hope for a better future.

Meet Biff, an adorable little puppy who will stop at nothing to become a ballet dancer.

Dress and accessorize all the different DANCERS in this beautiful My Sticker Dress-Up activity book! Children will enjoy screen-free fun with this amazing sticker book that encourages hours of unlimited imagination and play. Features a variety of dancers and dance styles including ballet, jazz, and tap. With 5 pages of reusable stickers, children will love exploring their creativity by creating their own outfits, scenes, and, of course...STYLE! Contains over 350 reusable stickers for multiple dress-up options Costumes and accessories can be used on multiple figures so children experience unlimited creativity Makes a wonderful birthday gift, holiday stocking stuffer, Easter basket stuffer, or any celebration gift

Soar with the Firebird, dance with the Nutcracker Prince and thrill at the drama of Romeo and Juliet in this beautifully illustrated collection of ballet stories. A delightful gift to enchant and inspire any ballet lover, with twelve stories specially retold for readers today. Includes links to websites with video clips and more about the ballets.

A playful picture book that urges readers to bop, bounce, and shake from the author of Fraidyzoo There are so many ways to dance! You can jiggle or wiggle or stomp. You can bop or bounce or go completely nuts. You can dance at the market or the bus stop, with your fingers or your face. You can dance because you're happy or even because you're sad. But, what's the best way to dance? Exactly how you want to! In How Do You Dance?, author-illustrator Thyra Heder explores dance in all of its creativity, humor, and-most of all-joy, in a picture-book celebration of personal expression that will inspire young and old readers alike to get up and get moving.

A charmingly illustrated exploration of The Nutcracker ballet, from the story to the characters to the music, for kids aged 8 - 12 to enjoy. The Nutcracker is one of the world's most beloved and recognizable ballets. A holiday perennial, it is frequently the first ballet young people experience and remember for a lifetime. This wonderfully engaging book introduces children, ages 8 to 12, to the story of the ballet, its history, the music and choreography, as well as all of the characters from Clara and the Prince to the Mouse King and the Snow Queen. Special sections introduce children to some of the most famous dancers and companies that have brought the performance and the magic of the ballet to life. Including a fold-out poster that young readers can remove and hang on their walls, A Child's Introduction to The Nutcracker is the perfect souvenir for the millions of young people who attend a holiday performance and have dreams of Sugarplum Fairies throughout the year.

Love fairy tales? Love animals? Love laugh-out-loud storytelling? Look no further! Cindergorilla loves to dance. She longs to go to the Saturday Night Disco Ball, where the other gorillas strut their stuff, but her horrid aunt and cousins, Gertrude and Grace always say no. Instead Cindergorilla must stay home and do the housework! But all that changes when Cinder gets a visit from her Hairy Godmother . . . The second hilarious title in a fun-filled fairytale series with empowering messages for young readers! Perfect for fans of The Fairytale Hairdresser and The Lion Inside series. Look out for: Rabunzel Coming soon: Snowy White

Young dancers have fallen in love with this charming, illustrated exploration of the world's great ballets. Featuring twenty-five famous and beloved pieces such as Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Peter and the Wolf and Fancy Free, these stories bring iconic performances to life and inspire readers to listen and dance along to the music that has made them enduring classics. Woven into these tales is a captivating history of ballet, filled with information and profiles of the world's greatest dancers, choreographers, and composers. Young readers will also enjoy fun facts and dancing how-tos all while listening to excerpts of classical music. Also included is a removable, fold-out poster depicting the five positions of ballet.

The Times Children's Book of the Week

Aya is eleven years old and has just arrived in Britain with her mum and baby brother, seeking asylum from war in Syria. When Aya stumbles across a local ballet class, the formidable dance teacher spots her exceptional talent and believes that Aya has the potential to earn a prestigious ballet scholarship. But at the same time, Aya and her family must fight to be allowed to remain in the country, to make a home for themselves and to find Aya's father - separated from the rest of the family during the journey from Syria. With beautiful, captivating writing, wonderfully authentic ballet detail, and an important message championing the rights of refugees, this is classic storytelling - filled with warmth, hope and humanity.