Bella Ballerina

With digital illustrations sparkling with stars, set against pink, yellow, and blue backgrounds, the pages are cheery, like a trip to a candy store. Keeping the energy levels high, Glenn depicts the characters’ swirls and twirls. […] Readers will appreciate this gentle tale that emphasizes the importance of helping a friend in need. Told in chirpy rhyming verse, the simple narrative would be a good read-aloud. Portraying dancers of various ethnicities, with Black adults as teachers, this title also offers a refreshingly inclusive depiction of ballet. A gracefully illustrated, uplifting story for young balletomanes. – Kirkus Reviews * 9/15/2024 *A cast of children portrayed with various skin tones takes the stage in this kindness-centered collaboration set in a dance class, where “tippy-toe tutu,/ tippy toe twirl,/ Bella Ballerina/ loves to spin and whirl.” As the brown-skinned child learns new vocabulary and skills, occasional wobbles result in classmates steadying her or helping her up. When a big show places Bella in front of a crowd, prompting her to linger anxiously in the wings, another friend’s need creates an opportunity for her to jeté to the rescue. – Publishers Weekly * 9/23/2024 *

Sharon M. Draper is a New York Times bestselling author of Out of My Mind, Blended, and Out of My Heart. She’s won Coretta Scott King Awards for Copper Sun and Forged by Fire and multiple honors. She’s also the recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award honoring her significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens. Sharon taught high school English for twenty-five years and was named National Teacher of the Year. She lives in Florida.

Ebony Glenn is a children’s book illustrator whose whimsical and expressive imagery can be found in Mommy’s Khimar and Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins, among others. Passionate for the arts and great storytelling, she lives on the outskirts of Atlanta with her family.

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