Ballet Besties hits all the buttons for a charming tale of the classic "Let's put on a show" genre for children aged 7 to 11. Whole families are involved as the adults are drawn in to provide all the backstage roles and their cultural differences are celebrated. Quite realistically, there are more girl dance students in the story than boys. The ballet students want to save their studio from closure and there is a lovely heart-warming ending.
This chapter book is beautifully presented with mono illustrations every couple of pages, all closely linked to the activities in the story. Many children will be drawn to use coloured pencils to personalise these drawings - if they have their own copy of the book! At the end of the story there are some supplements - ballet terms and positions, details of the ballet The Sleeping Beauty, even a recipe which features in the story.
This chapter book is beautifully presented with mono illustrations every couple of pages, all closely linked to the activities in the story. Many children will be drawn to use coloured pencils to personalise these drawings - if they have their own copy of the book! At the end of the story there are some supplements - ballet terms and positions, details of the ballet The Sleeping Beauty, even a recipe which features in the story.