Ballet Cat: Dance! Dance! Underpants!

Ballet Cat

by Bob Shea

Ballet Cat is getting her friend Butter Bear ready for her big ballet debut. "Leap, Butter Bear, leap!" Ballet Cat prompts. But Butter Bear would prefer to just point her toe. When Ballet Cat keeps pushing, Butter Bear gets hungry, then thirsty, then sleepy . . . The bottom line is that Butter Bear would rather do almost anything to avoid making a big leap. Why? Because her bottom is covered in silly underpants! This second entry in the Ballet Cat series will have beginning readers rolling on the floor with laughter.

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Childrens, Cats, Friendship, Fiction, Animals

56 pages, Hardcover

First published February 2, 2016

About the author

Bob Shea has written and illustrated over a dozen picture books including the popular Dinosaur vs. Bedtime and the cult favorite Big Plans illustrated by Lane Smith.

His characters and animations have appeared on Nick Jr, Playhouse Disney and PBS Kids.

Bob spends his days writing, drawing and having “conversations” with NPR.

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book makes me feel uncomfortable and I can't use it for storytimes without feeling like I'm encouraging youth to do things that they don't want to do.

If Butter Bear doesn't want to show her underwear by doing a leap in front of a bunch of "underwear peepers" then it's her right to say no. But this book would leave you to believe that saying no in that situation makes you lazy and you should do it anyway???

[Donalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of hearing Bob Shea read this book to a cafeteria full of kids in Michigan. What a treat.

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG SO FUNNY!

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

You always wonder how a second book in a series is going to compare to the first. Will it be as funny? Will it be as clever? Luckily for us, Ballet Cat is in good hands with Bob Shea!
In this hilarious follow-up, we meet Butter Bear, another friend of Ballet. Butter Bear apparently does not want to do Ballet Cat's big leaps, but the reader is left wondering why. The end result is laugh out loud funny, and begs to be read over and over again.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's funny, it's fun to read aloud, and the illustrations are bright and bold, all as per usual for Bob Shea.

So why not more stars? Maybe it's something about the rabid audience who came just for the underwear. Or because of the ridiculous pressure to leap. Butter Bear should be able to perform breathtaking ballet without leaping. And if Ballet Cat was a friend and not a complete jerk, maybe she would suggest wearing a leotard and tights to make Butter Bear more comfortable, not coerce the reluctant Butter Bear into meditating the drooling audience away. Ballet Cat comes across as the "close your eyes and think of England, dear" camp.

There's a time and a place to leap for your dreams without a care for those around you or for what they think. But when it involves literal underwear that you don't really want to show off, I don't think it's too absurd to demonstrate that there are other ways to reach new heights.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

That exuberant ballet-loving feline whose story began in Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret returns in this second amusing early reader, this time trying to convince her friend Butter Bear to take a high leap in their dance routine. Butter Bear has other ideas however, and finds lots of funny ways to stall, from a professed desire to eat cereal (lots of it!) to the need to go (in the woods). When Ballet Cat has finally had enough, and demands to know why Butter Bear won't leap, the desperate bear reveals all: their watching friends are Underpants Peepers, and might laugh at her underwear...

As with the first entry in this series (hopefully ongoing), Ballet Cat: Dance! Dance! Underpants! taps into the language and humor of young children, who will be particularly amused by the Underpants Peepers' sing-song chorus demanding underwear. Ballet Cat manages to convince Butter Bear that it is the ballet itself that matters, but this doesn't put an end to the silly fun, as the reader gets a glimpse of our feline heroine's own underpants at the end. The artwork here is fun, with cartoon figures on brightly-colored pages, and text is dialogue bubbles. Recommended to early readers who appreciate silly fun, and to anyone who enjoyed the first Ballet Cat story.

[Becky B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ballet Cat really wants Butter Bear to try some big leaps. Butter Bear uses tactic after tactic to delay the leaps. But why would Butter Bear not want to do big leaps?

On the one hand, I think some audiences will find this a funny story and not have any problem with it. On the other hand, some kids have genuine concerns about kids wanting to look at their underpants and that shouldn't be taken lightly. They should know that underwear peepers are not ok, and they are free to say no to things that make them uncomfortable. Now all this seems a moot point if Ballet Cat really knew her ballet. There are special things dancers can wear to prevent undies showing. I can see school counsellors using this to get kids to open up about unwanted advances, but I don't see it being helpful in general. In a #metoo era I'm kinda shocked this got published. It's kinda a shame about the ending because Butter Bear's excuses were very creative and very entertaining.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If you dance with all your heart, the only thing they will see is the beauty of ballet."

Butter Bear will do just about anything to avoid doing super high leaps with Ballet Cat ... because she doesn't want anyone to laugh at her underwear.

In the style of Mo Willems' Gerald and Piggy, this beginning chapter book should be a favorite of students, as seeing or saying underpants is just inherently funny to kids. But I also like the idea behind the story: don't worry about what people think. Perform with passion and people will be amazed.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful installment in the Ballet Cat series. Poor Butter Bear is coming up with so many excuses not to practice her dance with Ballet Cat. She even insists that she has to go into the woods when she needs to poop. Ha! The little audience waiting to see her perform is a diverse gathering of creatures, one of them even admitting that he is only there, because her underpants will show when she is dancing.

In the end, Butter Bear realizes that her fears are unjustified and she enjoys her moment in the spotlights dazzling her friends.

[Alicia Evans · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ballet Cat and Butter Bear are playing ballet, but Butter Bear doesn't appear to want to do high leaps and seems to be putting it off. Readers will enjoy the plot that adds one silly request from Butter Bear after the other. However, there isn't an emphasis on respecting boundaries here, and Ballet Cat gets very pushy with their friend. There's also a group of animals camped out because they are hoping to catch glimpses of their underwear while they dance. Problematic.

For: cat fans; ballet fans.

Possible red flags: being made fun of; issues with a friend; underwear peepers.

[La Tonya Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun children's book. You can do all things when you have a friend like Ballet Cat to show you the way. Butter Bear did not want to do Super-high leaps for fear of showing her underpants. What Butter Bear finds out "If you dance with all your heart, the only thing they will see is the beauty of ballet. They will forget all about your underpants. " A good read. This princple is true for children, teenagers, adults, and seniors.

Quote
Leap, Butter Bear, leap!

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This. THIS. Okay, so not technically a full-length book but I still have to include it on my 2016 shelf because I want to keep it in mind later. This was so funny, so sweet and I LOVE Ballet Cat. The beauty of dance, friendship, bravery and understanding all wrapped up in 30-something (?) pages. A little gem of a children's book.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must say that I chuckled when Butter Bear made bossy britches Ballet Cat mad! I can't wait to read this to K students my last week and watch them lose their mind about a book with underpants in the title.

[John H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Effectively captures the angst of not wanting people to see your underwear. I liked it even though there was a group of animals that camped out specifically in the hopes of seeing Butter Bear's underwear, which was a little creepy. The cereal eating scene is the best.

[Ally]

Adorable. And love the little nod to Unicorn from Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great.

[Joella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Bob Shea. His books make me happy. And they also make me laugh. And what kid wouldn't actually giggle when they read this title?

[Phaea Crede · Rating 2 out of 5]

The underwear peepers really make me uncomfortable. Not funny or cute - just sexual harassment!

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Working as an elementary librarian I have learned that certain words produce giggles regardless of the context in which they are used. One such word is "underpants". So I can pretty much guarantee that this book will elicit giggles from its intended audience. Ballet Cat and Butter Bear are practicing ballet together. Ballet Cat wants Butter Bear to do a super high leap, but Butter Bear keeps coming up with excuses for avoiding that particular activity. Ballet Cat gets more and more frustrated as Butter Bear's excuses keep coming. Finally, she breaks down and asks Butter Bear why she won't just do a super high leap. It turns out she's afraid the audience will laugh at her underpants. Ballet Cat sympathizes but explains that if she puts her whole heart into doing the best leap she can, the audience won't even notice her underpants (luckily she turns out to be right). But the sight of Butter Bear's underpants is bound to pull giggles from young listeners however.

[Jaden John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was laughing so hard when I saw the underpants. I was happy when she got carried.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had to read this book three nights in a row - my daughter thinks it’s hilarious!

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my goodness. This Ballet Cat book is even funnier that the first! Totally adorable and beginning readers will love it. The colors and illustrations completely support the hilarity and sense of fun. "What's so funny about underpants?" indeed.
*I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.*

[Sara Grochowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this second book featuring Ballet Cat, Bear is stubbornly avoiding leaping like Cat has taught her. But why is Bear is so hesitant to leap? After all, it's the best part of ballet! Readers will love trying to determine why Bear is so nervous.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really adored the first story in this series and this one was a great follow-up! This book is totally colorful, cute, and funny as well as quite clever. I enjoyed the friendship aspects of the tale as well as how Ballet Cat teaches Butter Bear to be brave even when you’re scared.

[Reaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

it is a bright spirited book about ballet cat and butter bear.


my thoughts:LOVE THESE books their so funny and so bright spirited

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed out loud at the bathroom joke. And I love the expressiveness of the characters' faces.

[Colette. PhD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will be a huge read a loud hit - kids will have a wonderful time chanting "underpants" along with the book!

[Carrie Gelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an enjoyable read aloud! High on both the humour and the vulnerability scales. Perfect for primary (and beyond) children.

[Shari (Shira) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is going to be a hit at read aloud time! Can't wait to read it to my favorite kindergarten classes. Fun, fun, fun.

[Megan Wagner · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was a bit concerning... didn't like how a bunch of boys were waiting around because they wanted to see Butter Bear's underwear.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Confusing message about people looking at your underpants. Somebody get these dancers some proper dancing clothes.