Ballerina Gets Ready

Reviewed by: Sheila Dube - Springvale Public Library, Springvale, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 20, 2016

Review

Ballerina wannabes and aficionados will love this minute-by-minute walk through a prima ballerina's day. Iris starts her day at 8:00 with breakfast. After that she goes to rehearsals, pointe class, more rehearsals, some free time, more practicing, dinner and then the evening performance. The predominant pattern of the story is stating the time and listing what is happening. Stock's illustrations provide the atmosphere of the busy city, the furniture-free practice rooms, and the expansiveness of the stage with orchestra in front. The draw back to this is that a few illustrations may or may not picture Iris. The art style makes it difficult to discern. The ballet words: tour en l'air, barre and adagio appear in italics within the story but there is no pronunciation or definition provided.

Overall Book Score: good