Written by Lesléa Newman, Illustrated by Carey Armstrong-Ellis

Abrams Books for Young Readers, $16.95, 30 pages

As the mother of a 4-year old princess who loves to dance, I originally thought: “Not another ballerina book!”. Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong! This is an enchanting book that teaches children that if they love something and work at it, they can accomplish whatever they want. Selena is an awkward girl who grows into a confident performer despite obstacles. The illustrations are especially endearing and appreciated throughout this book. The art is truly wonderful and works to weave in parallel stories throughout, making it a great picture book. The themes woven in the images provide a variety of ways to use this book with your child. From pointing out “silly” things, to counting the number of kids falling, and asking the names of the other kids in the book, children will want to do it all. Any parent or childcare provider would be pleased to read this book to their young ones and see how much enjoyment they get from it. I hope we can expect to see more heart-warming stories from this amazing author/illustrator duo.

Reviewed by Janet Wright