Grand Jeté and Me

Kent, a principal ballerina of the New York City Ballet for three decades under George Balanchine, lends her experience to this simply told picture book following a child and her former prima ballerina grandmother, nicknamed Grand Jeté. After a lunch where the excited young narrator and Grand Jeté, who are white, "plié next to the stools before we sit down," they "put on their faces" in front of Grand Jeté's lighted vanity. Dressed in matching red coats, the pair hurries through the backstage door of the theater--which detail-oriented readers will recognize as that of Lincoln Center--where they meet the dancers before taking front-row seats and becoming engrossed in Balanchine's production, which features dancers of various skin tones. Glasser's kinetic, wispy artwork, rendered in pen, watercolor, and gouache, warmly pays homage to ballet form onstage and off, capturing the text's free-spirited, memory-centered vibe. Back matter includes an author's note and glossary of ballet terms. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

K-Gr 3--A little girl is off to see her grandmother, known affectionately as Grand Jeté. Grand Jeté is a former prima ballerina and brings theatricality and chic extravagance to everything she does with her granddaughter, from bowing to vendors in the street to practicing the perfect flower toss for the end of a performance. After getting dressed up in special holiday ensembles, the duo heads to the New York City Ballet to see the iconic George Balanchine's The Nutcracker. Following the rousing and nostalgic performance, Grand Jeté tells the little girl that she could one day follow in her own prima ballerina footsteps as they dance out of the theater. Readers unfamiliar with the plot of the Nutcracker gain a brief understanding of the story, but it may work better as a refresher than as a primer for new audiences. The little girl is uniformly thrilled by absolutely everything, which leaves the impression that her character is chiefly a vessel for the more developed Grand Jeté's remembrances of her own days as the Sugar Plum Fairy. Disappointingly, few people of color are present in the audience and on stage. Back matter includes a note from author Kent, sharing her own history with The Nutcracker and a touching tribute to George Balanchine, as well as a glossary of the ballet terms used in the text such as plié and chassé. VERDICT This is an easy additon to holiday collections, certain to appeal to Nutcracker fans and balletomanes.--Alyssa Annico, Youngstown State Univ., OH

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

A little girl's visit with her grandmother is filled with dancing from the moment the door opens at her New York City apartment...The detailed illustrations, featuring the New York City Ballet's Nutcracker costumes and sets, are joyous and bubbly.—Kirkus Reviews