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Lola Levine #3
Lola Levine and the Ballet Scheme
When new classmate Bella, a ballet dancer, walks into Lola's class at Northland Elementary, all Lola can see is pink everywhere—pink ribbons, a pink sweatshirt, and pink tennis shoes. Yuck! Pink is Lola's least favorite color. Plus, Ballet isn't nearly as hard as soccer, is it?
Lola and Bella can't seem to stop squabbling. But when a mishap during class lands them in Principal Blot's office, Lola's mom comes up with a scheme—a ballet scheme—that just might make these classroom rivals realize that ballerinas and soccer players have more in common than they ever thought possible.
But is it too late for Lola to make a new friend?
Lola and Bella can't seem to stop squabbling. But when a mishap during class lands them in Principal Blot's office, Lola's mom comes up with a scheme—a ballet scheme—that just might make these classroom rivals realize that ballerinas and soccer players have more in common than they ever thought possible.
But is it too late for Lola to make a new friend?
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First published July 5, 2016
11 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Monica Brown
88 books119 followersMonica Brown, Ph.D. is the author of awardwinning bilingual books for children, including My Name Is Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz/Me llamo Celia: La vida de Celia Cruz (Luna Rising), a recipient of the Américas Award for Children's Literature and a Pura Belpré Honor. Her second picture book, My Name Is Gabriela: The Life of Gabriela Mistral/Me llamo Gabriela: La vida de Gabriela Mistral (Luna Rising) shares the story of the first Latina to win a Nobel Prize.
Monica's books are inspired by her Peruvian-American heritage and desire to share Latino/a stories with children. "I write from a place of deep passion, joy, and commitment to producing the highest possible quality of literature for children. In my biographies, the lives of my subjects are so interesting and transformational that I am simply giving them voice for a young audience. I don't think it is ever too early to introduce children to the concepts of magical realism, social justice, and dreaming big!"
Her other books include Chavela and the Magic Bubble (Clarion), Pelé, King of Soccer/Pelé, el rey del fútbol (Rayo/HarperCollins), My Name is Gabito: The Life of Gabriel Garcia Márquez/Me llamo Gabito: La vida de Gabriel Garcia Márquez (Luna Rising), and the forthcoming Side by Side: The Story of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez/Lado a lado, La Historia de Dolores Huerta y César Chávez (Rayo/HarperCollins).
Monica Brown is a Professor of English at Northern Arizona University, specializing in U.S. Latino Literature and Multicultural Literature. She also writes and publishes scholarly work with a Latino/a focus, including Gang Nation: Delinquent Citizenship in Puerto Rican and Chicano and Chicana Literature; and numerous scholarly articles and chapters on Latino/a literature and cultural studies. She is a recipient of the prestigious Rockefeller Fellowship on Chicano Cultural Literacies from the Center for Chicano Studies at the University of California. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Flagstaff, Arizona.
To hear Monica Brown on Arizona NPR radio, click here or here. Find out what Monica Brown has to say about children's books and literacy here and here.
Monica's books are inspired by her Peruvian-American heritage and desire to share Latino/a stories with children. "I write from a place of deep passion, joy, and commitment to producing the highest possible quality of literature for children. In my biographies, the lives of my subjects are so interesting and transformational that I am simply giving them voice for a young audience. I don't think it is ever too early to introduce children to the concepts of magical realism, social justice, and dreaming big!"
Her other books include Chavela and the Magic Bubble (Clarion), Pelé, King of Soccer/Pelé, el rey del fútbol (Rayo/HarperCollins), My Name is Gabito: The Life of Gabriel Garcia Márquez/Me llamo Gabito: La vida de Gabriel Garcia Márquez (Luna Rising), and the forthcoming Side by Side: The Story of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez/Lado a lado, La Historia de Dolores Huerta y César Chávez (Rayo/HarperCollins).
Monica Brown is a Professor of English at Northern Arizona University, specializing in U.S. Latino Literature and Multicultural Literature. She also writes and publishes scholarly work with a Latino/a focus, including Gang Nation: Delinquent Citizenship in Puerto Rican and Chicano and Chicana Literature; and numerous scholarly articles and chapters on Latino/a literature and cultural studies. She is a recipient of the prestigious Rockefeller Fellowship on Chicano Cultural Literacies from the Center for Chicano Studies at the University of California. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Flagstaff, Arizona.
To hear Monica Brown on Arizona NPR radio, click here or here. Find out what Monica Brown has to say about children's books and literacy here and here.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 23, 2016
I'm 99% sure this is my new favorite kids' book series. Lola and the other characters are just so endearing. Like a diverse Ramona & Beezus!
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January 1, 2020Diverse
Great story about a 2nd grader, and the new girl that moves in. This is a good example of children learning to get along despite differences.
Great story about a 2nd grader, and the new girl that moves in. This is a good example of children learning to get along despite differences.
December 15, 2017
So the ISD library has Lola Levine books 1-4. But, the second book is checked out, so I had to move onto #3 - The Ballet Scheme. And of course two strong willed girls end up butting heads before they become friends. But what I love is that Monica Brown has put my worries to rest and made a female protagonist who develops a bond with another girl. Friendships with boys are healthy, but writing a female protagonist who doesn't devalue female friendships is wonderful!
Go Lola! Go Bella!
Love this book, and I plan on promoting this book to my students. Immediately.
Go Lola! Go Bella!
Love this book, and I plan on promoting this book to my students. Immediately.
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December 9, 2016I really liked this diverse book because through Bella and Lola's journey, kids learn that you can be friends with anyone, even if your interests are different! It also gives great examples of how we should respect other people's hobbies and interests, even if we don't like them ourselves.
( My Diverse Selection.)
( My Diverse Selection.)
April 10, 2017
This third book in the Lola Levine chapter book series is so much better than the first one. Lola learns an important lesson about empathy towards others. Love the acrostics and the inclusion of some Spanish words and Latino culture.
June 6, 2016
#bookaday -- Nice story with diverse characters with a good theme (its great to try something new)
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July 28, 2016Finished 7/27/16
November 14, 2016
If I return to primary, this is a series I will be putting into my classroom collection.
February 7, 2017
Texas Bluebonnet Nominee! I enjoyed this cute story about how you can be different and still like each other.
December 31, 2017
It was awesome because Bella Lola levines friend loves ballet and I am in ballet,tap,and jazz. l love ballet and the color pink just like Bella.
February 16, 2018
Amazing! So much fun.
July 1, 2017
A great entry in this fun series. When Lola finds herself at odds with the new girl Bella, a ballerina who loves pink and seems to be Lola's complete opposite, their moms come up with a scheme. Bella will try one soccer practice with Lola and Lola will try one ballet class with Bella. In trying out each other's activities, Lola and Bella discover that they have more in common than they thought and that they just might be able to get along after all.
This is a cute, diverse story about friendship and competition. Lola forever!
This is a cute, diverse story about friendship and competition. Lola forever!
December 7, 2018
Lola Levine does not follow the traditional girl norms, she enjoys playing soccer and hates the color pink. When a new classmate, Bella, all dressed in pink, joins her class, Lola is sure that they will not be friends. After an argument, Lola’s mother plans a scheme to teach them a lesson! Through ballet and soccer, the girls realize that they have more in common than they thought but will they become friends? Lola’s charming, funny, and curious personality will leave the readers wanting to read the other books in the series.
July 16, 2017
This is a cute story about a second grade girl learning to make friends with someone who seems different from her at first.
August 9, 2017
Lola, a Peruvian American 2nd grader makes friends with the new girl-- a ballet loving Mexican American girl.
Yay Latinas in beginning chapter books!!!
Yay Latinas in beginning chapter books!!!
June 29, 2018
Who knew that ballet could be useful in soccer?
February 25, 2019
This book introduces a new character into the plot. This book is new and interesting.
June 8, 2019
the meaning of the story is good
May 2, 2025
This book is included in PEN America's Index of Banned and Challenged Books. A friend generously donated a copy for placement in my Little Free Library.
I'm honestly not sure what's got people's panties in a bunch about this book. I suppose it's probably that the two main characters aren't white. Or maybe the two or three pages where one character's little brother thinks he might like to take a ballet class. Whatever the case, those people are idiots.
Anyway, I thought the book was cute, albeit a very simple story. I liked the themes of friendship and learning to accept each other's differences. I look forward to passing the book along for a child to enjoy.
I'm honestly not sure what's got people's panties in a bunch about this book. I suppose it's probably that the two main characters aren't white. Or maybe the two or three pages where one character's little brother thinks he might like to take a ballet class. Whatever the case, those people are idiots.
Anyway, I thought the book was cute, albeit a very simple story. I liked the themes of friendship and learning to accept each other's differences. I look forward to passing the book along for a child to enjoy.
October 8, 2021
There's a new girl at school named Bella who doesn't like Lola because during tie dye day, Lola accidentally squirted black dye all over Bella. Bella got mad and tried to squeeze the bottle out at her. They became friends because their parents became best friends. They wore the same thing for twin day at school. Bella had to go to one of Lola's soccer practices, and Lola had to go to one of Bella's dance practices because their parents wanted them to try new things. Doing ballet and soccer is what made them friends.
January 22, 2021
This was the first book in the series that my kid and I read, but it won't be the last. I liked the character diversity and how the girls tried new experiences, which helped them see another person's perspective. Those are great lessons to learn for my kid.
December 18, 2023
Read this book in Spanish (Lola Levine en el Ballet) with my 2nd-grader as a follow-up to the Lola Levine book we did for book club. Right Spanish reading level for both of us. :) Cute book about finding shared interests with people that may seem different at first.
June 22, 2024
It has a good moral at the end I just prefer young adult books
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March 16, 2018In this great book Lola Levine and the Ballet Scheme by Monica Brown. the main characters is Lola. One thing that happen in the book that Lola had a new classmate and she wanted to be friends with her. Another thing that happen was that Bella's Mom told Bella that she was going to go to one of Lola's soccer game and she was going to play too. Lola's moms told Lola that she has to go one of Bella's bellet class and she has to do all of the dances. I wounder if Lola would ever get along with Alyssa?
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May 7, 2018Summer Reading 2018
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews