Belinda the Ballerina

Rating:
Summary: Hold On To Your Dream.....
Review: "Once there was a ballerina named Belinda. Belinda loved to dance. She went to dancing school every day and practiced very hard. She was graceful and light on her feet. But Belinda had a big problem-TWO big problems: her left foot and her right foot..." When she tried to audition for the Annual Ballet Recital, the judges took one look at her large feet and sent her home. "You will never be a dancer-not with those feet." Poor Belinda, she hung up her pink tutu and toe shoes and went looking for something new to do. She found a nice job as a waitress at Fred's Fine Food. "The customers liked her because she was quick and light on her feet." She loved her new job, but Belinda missed dancing. One day a band came to play at the restaurant, and soon Belinda's toes began tapping. In no time, she was dancing across the floor, night after night, as the musicians performed. "The customers were enthralled. They loved it so much that they told their friends..." Word spread quickly as friends told friends, and soon word reached the Maestro from the Grand Metropolitan Ballet..... Amy Young's simple story is sweet and heartwarming, but predictable. It's her playful and engaging illustrations that really make this picture book stand out and sparkle. Each expressive page is rich in charm, bright color, marvelous detail and warm humor. With a gentle message that won't be lost on little ones, Belinda The Ballerina is perfect for youngsters 3-7. Remember, dreams do come true. Just ask Belinda.

Rating:
Summary: Hold On To Your Dream.....
Review: "Once there was a ballerina named Belinda. Belinda loved to dance. She went to dancing school every day and practiced very hard. She was graceful and light on her feet. But Belinda had a big problem-TWO big problems: her left foot and her right foot..." When she tried to audition for the Annual Ballet Recital, the judges took one look at her large feet and sent her home. "You will never be a dancer-not with those feet." Poor Belinda, she hung up her pink tutu and toe shoes and went looking for something new to do. She found a nice job as a waitress at Fred's Fine Food. "The customers liked her because she was quick and light on her feet." She loved her new job, but Belinda missed dancing. One day a band came to play at the restaurant, and soon Belinda's toes began tapping. In no time, she was dancing across the floor, night after night, as the musicians performed. "The customers were enthralled. They loved it so much that they told their friends..." Word spread quickly as friends told friends, and soon word reached the Maestro from the Grand Metropolitan Ballet..... Amy Young's simple story is sweet and heartwarming, but predictable. It's her playful and engaging illustrations that really make this picture book stand out and sparkle. Each expressive page is rich in charm, bright color, marvelous detail and warm humor. With a gentle message that won't be lost on little ones, Belinda The Ballerina is perfect for youngsters 3-7. Remember, dreams do come true. Just ask Belinda.

Rating:
Summary: Illustrations that dance!
Review: Belinda has a gift, and she works hard at it too. But she doesn't fit a few gatekeeping critics' ideas of what a ballerina should look like.

Rejection makes her very sad... lie-in-the-bathtub-for-a-long-time sad.

But she picks herself up, and goes to work in a restaurant, where dance finds her again ~ and she herself is discovered.

The story is lovely, but the artwork is what makes this book shine. Belinda of the huge feet pirouettes, prances, leaps, and soars across the page. Her friends and supporters are charming and diverse, her judges are appropriately and entertainingly unpleasant.

I know there is a child with whom you can read this who will take heart from its generous words and images.

Rating:
Summary: A REMINDER THAT DREAMS CAN COME TRUE
Review: Most young girls have dreams, and Belinda has an ambitious one - she wanted to be a ballerina. More than anything else in the world she wanted to dance. It was what she loved, and she practiced very hard.

At last the time came for her to try out for the Annual Ballet Recital. How disappointed she was when she wasn't even allowed to try out because the judges all said her feet were too big. That would never do for a ballerina.

Belinda was disconsolate, but she pulled herself together and tried to forget about dancing. She found a job at Fred's Fine Food. She liked her job, and the customers all liked Belinda because she was a quick waitress and very light on her feet.

One day, quite by accident, a band that played snappy, upbeat tunes came to play at Fred's. Belinda just couldn't help herself - before she knew it she was tapping her toes, and then, suddenly, she was dancing!

When Fred saw this he asked Belinda if she would dance for the customers. Of course, she said. Customers came; they brought their friends. Soon, Fred's was full of people who loved to watch Belinda dance.

Word of this phenomenon reached the Maestro from the Grand Metropolitan Ballet. Young readers will be delighted to discover what happens next.

Amy Young has written a sweet story to remind all of us that dreams can come true.

Rating:
Summary: A REMINDER THAT DREAMS CAN COME TRUE
Review: Most young girls have dreams, and Belinda has an ambitious one - she wanted to be a ballerina. More than anything else in the world she wanted to dance. It was what she loved, and she practiced very hard.

At last the time came for her to try out for the Annual Ballet Recital. How disappointed she was when she wasn't even allowed to try out because the judges all said her feet were too big. That would never do for a ballerina.

Belinda was disconsolate, but she pulled herself together and tried to forget about dancing. She found a job at Fred's Fine Food. She liked her job, and the customers all liked Belinda because she was a quick waitress and very light on her feet.

One day, quite by accident, a band that played snappy, upbeat tunes came to play at Fred's. Belinda just couldn't help herself - before she knew it she was tapping her toes, and then, suddenly, she was dancing!

When Fred saw this he asked Belinda if she would dance for the customers. Of course, she said. Customers came; they brought their friends. Soon, Fred's was full of people who loved to watch Belinda dance.

Word of this phenomenon reached the Maestro from the Grand Metropolitan Ballet. Young readers will be delighted to discover what happens next.

Amy Young has written a sweet story to remind all of us that dreams can come true.

- Gail Cooke