Sunshine is all about ballet right now. She wants to grow up and become a ballerina. I am LOVING this passion so much, as I too LOVE ballet.
It's so much fun having a common interest.
When our family took a trip not so long ago, Sunshine asked that I bring her back a ballet book. I agreed to this not knowing how difficult it would be to find ballet books at the bookstore.
Since then I have searched Amazon, checked our local libraries, and spent a lot of time reading ballet books to find the best ones to share with Sunshine.
Here are, in my opinion, the best ballet books for kids.
The Best Ballet Books for Kids
The Ballet Book: The Young Performer's Guide to Classical Dance by Deborah Bowes
I absolutely love the true-to-life images in this book. Each page is absolutely beautiful with children demonstrating proper technique. The book is so simple yet includes so much detail at the same time.
Sunshine received this book for Easter and LOVED it. She would go through each page, looking at the dancers and then attempt the moves and positions.
Ballet School by Naia Bray-Moffatt
I love that this book takes children through the routines of dance class while using true-to-life images of ballet dancers that are children, to demonstrate the process. It inspires ballet dancers to continue to practice and progress to performance. This book also demonstrates how to prepare for a performance, which can be very helpful.
Welcome to Ballet School by Ashley Bouder
This book, written by a principal ballerina, promotes diversity and is beautifully illustrated. I thoroughly enjoyed observing the emotions on each of the children's faces on every page. The book itself guides children through dance class, but includes so much more.
There are illustrations of dance positions labeled. Tips and steps are provided to help children move with ease. The book includes the story of a famous ballet and does such a great job teaching that ballet is a story of movement. What more could you want in a ballet book?
On Your Toes: A Ballet ABC by Rachel Isadora
This book is such a fantastic way to introduce vocabulary related to ballet. For each letter of the alphabet, a ballet related word is introduced and accompanied by a beautiful illustration. Words are not just ballet positions.
I absolutely love the illustrations in this book. They are so bright and beautiful, yet child like at the same time.
Boys Dance by John Robert Allman
Ballet is not just for girls! This book is perfect for the boy in your life who wants to be a dancer and for the girls in your life who don't know that dancing is for boys too. The illustrations in this book are absolutely adorable. The facial expressions are priceless.
I love that this book highlights aspects of ballet that are specific to boys and men. It's a great way to help boys feel special about their contributions to the world of ballet.
Time for Ballet by Adele Geras
This book does a fantastic job of teaching that every child is different and will look different in dance class through the beautiful illustrations and text. The book is very simple, progressing through the different parts of a dance class, encouraging practice at home, and preparing for a recital, but does so in a way that isn't overwhelming or intimidating.
Lili at Ballet by Rachel Isadora
This book includes so much ballet vocabulary! It's a great book for those who have just started dancing and want to learn and understand more. The illustrations are beautiful and so calming. I love that it also introduces characters from actual ballets.
This book also does a fabulous job of balancing out vocabulary and concepts related to ballerinas as well as boy ballet dancers.
Ballet Stars by Joan Holub
If you have a daughter who's excited about ballet and also learning to read, this book may be perfect! The illustrations are quite cute and the story simple, but it's a great book to add to your child's library.
Ballet with Heart by Emily Joof
This book is quite special as it includes the journey of a girl and boy starting dance classes. Both parents are supportive of the children's choices to dance and are so encouraging throughout the process. Dance classes include incredible diversity in characters, including a ballet dancer who uses a walker.
I love how the characters have both already been introduced to ballet and specific characters that have inspired them to learn ballet.
Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet by Jane O'Connor
This book is everything a little girl could want. It includes ballet and mermaids. It's sparkly and full of so many bright colors. The illustrations are adorable.
What I love about this book is that it walks children through the scenario of a little girl who does not receive the part in the ballet recital she wants and how she handles that situation. It also discusses the reality that a friend does get the part that's desired.
The book is fabulous at explaining emotions and vocabulary terms, while at the same time helping children understand it's okay to feel emotions when things don't go their way.
I can not recommend these ballet books enough. They are truly the best that I've found. If you have a child who enjoys ballet or want to introduce dance to kids, these books are the perfect way to do so!
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