BELLA BALLERINA

A young Black ballerina practices for an upcoming recital.

Little Bella loves to spin and whirl at the Crystal Pointe Ballet Academy. She enjoys the music and learns positions such as chassé, passé, and pas de chat. Along with a diverse cast of young dancers, she takes lessons from a Black ballet teacher, with a Black pianist accompanying them. The class is appropriately fun for these youngsters, who pretend to be dragons and little ducks. When Bella loses her shoe in class, a friend is there to assist. We briefly see the students prepare for the show. Soon Bella finds herself onstage, fighting nerves. What will help her spring into action? Reaching out to support a fellow dancer through a moment of uncertainty grounds Bella—and gives her the strength to soar. 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. While the narrative’s dramatic tension is quite minor, 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.