A Bunny in the Ballet

A BUNNY IN THE BALLET by Robert Beck. Orchard/Scholastic, 2014.

Can a bunny dance
n a prestigious ballet?
Desiree just might.

Toe Shoe Mouse

TOE SHOE MOUSE by Jan Carr with illustrations by Jennifer Bell. Holiday House, 2014.

Ballerina shoe
Becomes a home for a mouse
Perhaps a career?

Tie to THE MOUSE IWTH THE QUESTION MARK TAIL by Richard Peck and Julie Andrew's THE GREAT AMERICAN MOUSICAL and THE TALE OF DESPERAUX by Kate DiCamillo and Ed Young's SEVEN BLIND MICE for an interesting compare text set.

A movable feast

THE NUTCRACKER: A MAGIC THEATER BOOK by Geraldine McCaughrean with illustrations by Kristina Swarner. Chroncile Books, 2012.

Interactive pages
Show the dancers and much more
Glorious ballet. <404>

GANESHA'S SWEET TOOTH by Sanjay Patel with illustrations by Emily Haynes. Chronicle Books, 2012.

Ganesha loves sweets
But loses a tooth to them
The tooth writes stories. <405>

Dancing Masters

BUNHEADS by Sophie Flack (Little Brown/Poppy, October 2011) follows the hopes and dreams of Hannah Ward, a member of the corps of ballet dancers at the Manhattan Ballet. Hannah has always dreamed of being a ballet dancer and has spent her last 5 years at the Manhattan Ballet, living on her own and working day in and day out to perfect her craft. She does not have time even to explore the city that houses the ballet company. She spends her days in exercise and rehearsals and her nights sleeping. If she wants to become a soloist and move up in the company, she must dedicate all her being to ballet. <352>

Sophie Flack danced with the New York City Ballet, and this is quite evident in the detailed descriptions of the routines, choreography, and especially in the day to day existence of these young women who aspire to be the best in their professions. Things such as eating disorders, injuries, and competition are treated as matter of fact: which they would be to the young women who will do whatever it takes to get ahead, to be featured, to please.