Product Description

Lili loves to dance, and dreams of becoming a ballerina. In her ballet class she does stretches, works at the barre, and learns the five classical dance positions that are the basics for the roles she may dance when she is older. Enhanced by delicate watercolor illustrations, this lovely book is the perfect introduction for boys and girls who want to learn more about ballet. Full color.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #74501 in Books
• Published on: 1996-08-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Who can resist a peek at young artists in training? Isadora gifts her heroine, Lily, with a quintessential combination of dreams and determination, then allows us to sit in on the ballet class that Lili attends four times a week. Lili and fellow students model their dance wardrobes, demonstrate their exercises and steps, and imagine themselves dancing celebrated roles in a number of ballets. Each new element, be it a practice tutu, one of the five basic positions or a movement like a passe en pointe, receives its own illustration and is captioned in unornamented cursive script. Budding balletomanes will especially enjoy the detailed discussion of the ever-wondrous pointe shoe; another welcome section focuses on a class just for boys. Two depictions of full-scale ballet productions expand to fill entire spreads with dramatic color; as if to distinguish theatrical illusion from the arduous work behind the scenes, the rest of the book is rendered in pale washes. A former dancer whose daughter is enrolled at New York City's prestigious School of the American Ballet, Isadora presents ballet with familiarity and respect--she romanticizes neither the suffering nor the glory, and emphasizes only Lily's dedication. Brava! Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
With a minimal explanatory text, a realistic depiction of a serious young ballet student and her class. Beginning with an appealing take of Lili dancing at home with her cat and a glamorous glimpse of a ballet in progress in an ornate theater, Isadora details the clothes used for class, warm-up exercises, the five positions, and several of the classic steps, including some high leaps taught in the boys' class. Meanwhile, Lili, an aspiring ballerina, dances the flower fairy in a school performance and looks forward to learning roles like Petroushka and Giselle. Isadora, who's danced professionally, deftly sketches the young dancers in delicate pencil lines and splashes of watercolor, giving them ample space to move across the white pages and nicely capturing their poise and grace. There's little mention here of discipline or hard work; still, an attractive and informative first look. (Picture book. 4-9) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Customer Reviews

If you love ballet then you will love this book
I am an x ballerina and now my young daughter dances. She can't get enough of theis book and reads it over and over again. We loved the illustrations so much, that we wrote to Ms. Isadora and asked if she would sell us a piece of art from the book! The book simply but thoroughly explains ballet to a young child but to a novice as well. I am just thrilled that such a book is available!

Go Lili Go
I just loved this book which I shared with my students at my ballet school. We had a joyous time going over every detail and I found it very helpful as a learning tool as well. I will give it as a Christmas present to my own children, who dance too. I think the illustrations were right on and I am so pleased with the book.

Pretty Pictures! (But don't expect a How-To or a story)
The illustrations are gorgeous!

Unfortunately, in picture after picture (not ALL, but way too many) the arms are in the wrong position in relation to the legs, which is a very unbalanced thing for a young child to try to imitate... and the beautifull illustrations are so engrossing that it's hard to explain to a youngster that the picture is showing either the wrong leg forward or the wrong arm up...

The so-called story is lacking any real plot, but then, that isn't why you buy this book anyway. Any young child will really really love the artwork. And unlike many other books on ballet, this one shows children, so little girls relate to it in a more personal way.

Buy it for the pictures, but for a how-to of steps and positions, get a different book that is more accurate.