READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT!

Little sister Tessie envies big sister Maya’s spotlight.

After one month in ballet class, Tessie confidently believes she is second to none—that is, except for her older sister, Maya. Maya has danced in a crown as the Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, a performance that granted her not one, but three bouquets of flowers. Tessie has her eyes on the prize: specifically, the role of lead ballerina in the fall recital, who, yes, wears a crown. During tryouts, Tessie tries her hardest and excels most during the freestyle portion of class, saying it best: “No rules. No pointed toes. Who needs lessons when you have rhythm?” When Maya scores the lead and Tessie is cast as a bumblebee, she is angry at Maya and at the unfairness of the situation. With tenderness and sisterly love, Maya reminds Tessie, “You don’t need a crown to be a good dancer.” She then helps Tessie with her bumblebee dance while Tessie teaches her freestyle moves. In the end, it turns out that the spotlight can be shared and enjoyed by siblings. Kim’s accessible illustrations set a colorful stage for a sweet social-emotional story. With her spiky pageboy, distinct frown, and downturned black eyebrows, Tessie and her emotions take center stage in a familiar and recognizable way. Tessie and Maya both have pale skin and straight, black hair.

An adorable exploration of jealousy without a heavy hand.