Tallulah's Toe Shoes (Tallulah)

In Tallulah's first outing, she was desperate for a tutu; now, like all young ballerinas, she dreams of getting her first pair of toe shoes and dancing en pointe. Trying to speed the process along, she snags a discarded pair that belonged to an older dancer, but she learns that while her determination is unwavering, her body isn't quite ready for the challenge. As with the previous two books, Singer and Boiger deliver the story's message with a lightness and grace befitting the subject matter, and Tallulah remains a highly empathetic heroine. Ages 4-8. Illustrator's agent: Marcia Wernick, Wernick & Pratt. (Mar.)

PreS-Gr 2—Tallulah wants to be a real ballerina in pink-satin toe shoes, like the Lilac Fairy in her ballet school's performance of Sleeping Beauty. Both her mother and her teacher tell her gently that she is too young to dance en pointe, but the child is determined. She takes a discarded pair of toe shoes home and puts them on. Standing on her toes in front of her mirror, she realizes that she looks more like a crouching rat than a graceful dancer. She stays en pointe with her little brother's help, and her toes become painfully hot and red. That week her sadness is palpable as she walks through the park. When she puts the shoes back into the wastebasket, an older girl who danced the Lilac Fairy sees and understands. Like Tallulah, she thought she would never learn to dance on her toes, but she has. So will Tallulah in time with practice. Tallulah's Tutu (2011) and Tallulah's Solo (2012, both Clarion) also show the youngster's dreamy expectations becoming more realistic. The watercolor and gouache illustrations use a palette of soft rose, pinks, blues, and grays. Children who love ballet will love this one and want to read the other titles in this series.—Mary Jean Smith, formerly at Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN