Belinda the Ballerina

by Amy Young

Book Overview

Once there was a ballerina named Belinda. Belinda loved to dance. She went to ballet school every day and practiced very hard. But Belinda had a big problem. Actually, Belinda had two big problems: her left foot and her right foot. When a trio of big-mouthed dance critics declare that Belinda has no future in ballet, Belinda decides to give up dancing forever. But what's a dancer to do if she can't dance? A playful text and whimsical illustrations...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670035491
• ISBN13: 9780670035496
• Release Date: March 2003
• Publisher: Viking Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 7.7" x 10.2"
• Age Range: 3 years and up
• Grade Range: Preschool and higher

Customer Reviews

A Great Success Story!

Our three- year- old great niece and ballet student just loves this story. So does her mother! It's lots of fun. 'Belinda and the Glass Slipper' is another great one that we will give our great niece for her birthday.

Story with a moral

I first heard this story at church (this story has a moral), when the minister invites the children up front for a shared time together before they go off to Sunday School. I liked the idea of the story (never give up!) so much, I bought the book for my grandchildren. And it is a hit. The humor and illustrations are irresistible.

Dreams Come True

This teaches little ones that if you follow your passion dreams can come true. Lovely story.

When you have the choice to sit it out or dance... I hope you dance!

Belinda has a dream, and the powers that be -- the experts, would like to take it away from her. She does not fit the customary image of a ballet dancer. But while working as a waitress, she hears music, her feet begin to move -- and to the admiration of all the customers, Belinda is a dancer. This is a beautifully, joyfully illustrated story about following your dreams, no matter what obstacles life my put in our path! What a positive and uplifting book to share with the young readers in your circle.

Illustrations that dance!

Belinda has a gift, and she works hard at it too. But she doesn't fit a few gatekeeping critics' ideas of what a ballerina should look like.Rejection makes her very sad... lie-in-the-bathtub-for-a-long-time sad.But she picks herself up, and goes to work in a restaurant, where dance finds her again ~ and she herself is discovered.The story is lovely, but the artwork is what makes this book shine. Belinda of the huge feet pirouettes, prances, leaps, and soars across the page. Her friends and supporters are charming and diverse, her judges are appropriately and entertainingly unpleasant.I know there is a child with whom you can read this who will take heart from its generous words and images.