Bedtime Ballet

by Kallie George, Shanda McCloskey (Illustrator)

Overview

Ease the wind-down to sleep with this graceful, playful rhyme that will have children gliding into bed!


Two satin slippers with bunny-ear toes and stripy pajamas are dreamy dance clothes . . .


When the sun sets, the ballet can begin! From the first notes of the crickets' outdoor orchestra to her grand finale indoors, one little girl glissés and jetés her way to bedtime. Rhyming verse, fun sound effects and elegant French words add delicious read-aloud flair to this delightful, dance-filled tale.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780759554702
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	01/19/2021
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Kallie George is the author of the Magical Animal Adoption Agency series, as well as the Heartwood Hotel series. She works as an author and speaker in Vancouver, Canada, and she holds a master's in children's literature from the University of British Columbia. In addition to writing books for young readers, she leads workshops for aspiring writers.


Shanda McCloskey is the author-illustrator of the STEM-friendly tales DOLL-E 1.0 and T-Bone the Drone, and has also illustrated Fire Truck Vs. Dragon by Chris Barton. Shanda (rhymes with "panda") studied art in Atlanta and New York City, and now lives in Ball Ground, GA with two daughters, her husband, and dog.

Editorial Reviews

"This sweet bedtime story is told in hushed and swooping rhyming couplets and illustrated in mixed-media with gentle watercolor washes in dreamy and subdued hues that will bring drooping eyelids with the closing rose-covered curtain."—Booklist

"Viewers...will understand the little girl's passion for ballet even if they don't share it themselves, and if pronunciations of ballet terms can't be inferred from rhymes, a glossary at the end provides these with descriptions."—BCCB

"Softly colored textured washes combine with thick linework to create a cozy atmosphere. Fantastical performing animals add a touch of whimsy."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2020-11-27
Bedtime is more fun when ballet’s involved.

As the sun sets, a child and their stuffed bunny dance their way to bed. The insects, frogs, birds, and flowers in the yard join in the dance, jumping and spinning with delight. Then the duo glide into the house to dance through their bedtime routine, brushing teeth, giving kisses to Mama and waving at brother before Papa tucks them in for sleep. With the plot following a fairly standard bedtime-book formula, caregivers looking for a short, sweet bedtime story will be happy with this fluffy book. What distinguishes it are the inclusion and depiction of ballet terms in both text and illustrations, and little ones who are already enrolled in ballet class will be able to understand the text easily. Those less familiar with ballet terminology may find the story less than engaging, but the glossary on the final page that includes a pronunciation guide provides some support. The rhyme scheme bounces the story along, with an instance of assonance perhaps drawing readers up short: “Kitty jumps close / with a grand pas de chat. / Puppy just watches. / His tail thumps to clap.” Softly colored textured washes combine with thick linework to create a cozy atmosphere. Fantastical performing animals add a touch of whimsy. All human characters are depicted with pale skin and brown hair. (This book was reviewed digitally with 8.5-by-22-inch double-page spreads viewed at 40% of actual size.)

A conventional bedtime story that will appeal mostly to balletomanes. (Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews