The Ballet Class

This is a book full of charming evocation of everyday life, rich in the magic of minor detail. - Books for Keeps

This book will delight any child just starting ballet. Shelagh McNicholas exuberant and expressive illustrations add to the fun - the children s movements are captured beautifully. - Carousel

A perfect picture book for budding ballerinas. - School Librarian

Award-winning author Adele Geras spent much of her childhood moving from place to place. To date Adele has written over 100 books for children, including the bestselling The Ballet Class, Little Ballet Star and My Ballet Dream for Orchard. Her highly acclaimed Troy (Scholastic) was shortlisted for The Whitbread Prize. A great deal of her poetry has been published in various magazines and anthologies. Adele lives in Cambridge with her husband.

Shelagh McNicholas grew up in Liverpool. Apart from a short time spent teaching life drawing, Shelagh has always worked as an illustrator. The Ballet Class was Shelagh’s first picture book for Orchard. Her realistic and endearing illustrations perfectly complement the story of Tilly and her ambitions to become a top ballerina.

Shelagh is passionate about drawing and is happiest with her sketchbook and pencils. Her favourite subject is her daughter and it was her sketches of Molly as a ballerina that inspired her illustrations for ‘The Ballet Class’.

Shelagh lives in Liverpool with her daughter.