MISS LINA'S BALLERINAS AND THE PRINCE
From the Miss Lina's Ballerinas series, volume 2
by Grace Maccarone & illustrated by Christine Davenier
The nine lovely little girls are back and what a joy—for there’s a new student joining their ranks, and he’s a boy!
It’s in Messina where Miss Lina makes that announcement to Christina, Edwina, Sabrina, Justina, Katrina, Bettina, Marina, Nina and Regina. The girls happily dream of dancing a pas de deux, but the young boy is “feeling quite shy / to see so much pink and be only one guy.” He dances off to the zoo, and at their teacher’s command—"Chassé!"—they pursue! When they find him, he is happily imitating lions and donkeys and dolphins and monkeys. He’s clearly not the danseur noble they envisioned, but the girls are accepting, and all prance back to the studio to practice and perform a very lively season finale. As in Miss Lina’s Ballerinas (2010), Maccarone has fashioned another charming story in rhyme for young readers that integrates ballet terminology into the narrative and provides a very positive reinforcement for boys interested in the arts. The pastel drawings with swirls of crayon lines provide just the right touch of ambiance and energy.