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Magic Ballerina #1
Delphie and the Magic Ballet Shoes
Prima Ballerina Darcey Bussell takes you on a captivating journey to a faraway land of ballet and magic, the wonderful world of Enchantia! The first of a sparkly new series for all young girls who dream of being a ballerina, or simply love to dance... Delphie's greatest dream is to become a ballerina, and she can't quite believe it when she is invited to join the new ballet school. But there's more to Madame Zarakova's than it at first seems and with the help of some very special ballet shoes, Delphie finds herself spinning into a whole new world...
94 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2008
42 people are currently reading
372 people want to read
About the author
Darcey Bussell
118 books38 followersDarcey Andrea Bussell CBE is an English dancer and former prima ballerina of The Royal Ballet, a major international ballet company based in London, England. She is widely considered to be one of the greatest English ballerinas of all time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
July 6, 2013
A rather happy children's story, perfect for little girls who love ballet, and so this is a very solid 3 stars.
It has a little hint of fantasy with the magic shoes, and a lesson on charity from the head of the dance school.
Although a children's book, the writing is remarkably mature and the story is well written. Some of the technical terms would probably cause children to stumble while reading, particularly with the pronunciation.
It has a little hint of fantasy with the magic shoes, and a lesson on charity from the head of the dance school.
Although a children's book, the writing is remarkably mature and the story is well written. Some of the technical terms would probably cause children to stumble while reading, particularly with the pronunciation.
November 25, 2025
čtení podruhé, tentokrát četla dcera sama ❤️
Kniha pro děti od 6 let.
Příběh je o dívce, která je baletní samouk a touží chodit do baletní školy. Její tanec uvidí lektorka baletu a jelikož je dívka talentovaná, učitelka jí nabídne hodiny baletu zdarma. A jako bonus jí věnuje staré červené baletní střevíčky, které dívku odnesou do Země kouzel.
Já ji četla mé pětiletce a od té doby se nám podařilo sehnat celou sérii. Dcera je z nich nadšená a já kupodivu taky. Kapitoly jsou krátké, ideální na čtení večer.
A bonus na konec - poslední stránka ukazuje baletní cvik či postoj.
Kniha pro děti od 6 let.
Příběh je o dívce, která je baletní samouk a touží chodit do baletní školy. Její tanec uvidí lektorka baletu a jelikož je dívka talentovaná, učitelka jí nabídne hodiny baletu zdarma. A jako bonus jí věnuje staré červené baletní střevíčky, které dívku odnesou do Země kouzel.
Já ji četla mé pětiletce a od té doby se nám podařilo sehnat celou sérii. Dcera je z nich nadšená a já kupodivu taky. Kapitoly jsou krátké, ideální na čtení večer.
A bonus na konec - poslední stránka ukazuje baletní cvik či postoj.
June 30, 2020
Magic Ballerina: Delphie and the Magic Ballet Shoes (2009) By Darcey Bussell is the first book in the author/dancer/TV judge’s series of childrens’ books.
In this first book, the protagonist Delphie is asked by Madame Zarakova to join her ballet school. Delphie and her family can’t afford to send her but Madame Zarakova sees potential and gives her these battered but magical ballet shoes. As the book unfolds, we realise that these shoes will get her to the land of Enchantia where the characters in The Nutcracker are left unable to dance by Evil King Rat. Delphie finds herself on her first mission since acquiring the ballet shoes with the help of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
I find the plot very imaginative and cleverly put together. The way the class is practicing The Nutcracker and then that leads into the situation in Enchantia is very cleverly done. I love how Delphie is working-class and loves ballet, which would probably be thought by many as ‘above our station’, how the author shows that passion and hard work can get you anywhere from any background and how the ballet shoes are battered and old instead of shiny, glossy little things. There is a lot of great messages in this book for children and for any children who love ballet and dance it will very enjoyable I’m sure. Darcey also includes some dance steps at the back of the book.
There is a few technical ballet terms which might be difficult for children to understand but I think that is probably my only tiny issue with it. It is a great read for children and quite a good read for adults too!
A great start to the series.
In this first book, the protagonist Delphie is asked by Madame Zarakova to join her ballet school. Delphie and her family can’t afford to send her but Madame Zarakova sees potential and gives her these battered but magical ballet shoes. As the book unfolds, we realise that these shoes will get her to the land of Enchantia where the characters in The Nutcracker are left unable to dance by Evil King Rat. Delphie finds herself on her first mission since acquiring the ballet shoes with the help of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
I find the plot very imaginative and cleverly put together. The way the class is practicing The Nutcracker and then that leads into the situation in Enchantia is very cleverly done. I love how Delphie is working-class and loves ballet, which would probably be thought by many as ‘above our station’, how the author shows that passion and hard work can get you anywhere from any background and how the ballet shoes are battered and old instead of shiny, glossy little things. There is a lot of great messages in this book for children and for any children who love ballet and dance it will very enjoyable I’m sure. Darcey also includes some dance steps at the back of the book.
There is a few technical ballet terms which might be difficult for children to understand but I think that is probably my only tiny issue with it. It is a great read for children and quite a good read for adults too!
A great start to the series.
July 2, 2023
Omg! Seeing this book just unlocked wave of pure and utter nostalgia! I remember walking into the local library with my dad at about 6 years old and seeing this book. He caught me reading the blurb at the back and took it up to the lady to borrow it for me. He would read a few chapters to me every night before I went to sleep and I’d wake up the next morning, excited to tell my mom all about it on the way to school. I was obsessed with Delphie’s magical adventures and as time went on, I began reading them to myself. My parents bought me the full collection after seeing how much I adored it. This made my day!
June 10, 2022
This was my first Darcey Bussell book and, quite frankly enough I was so interested in this book I read it in one sitting and thank god I have part two waiting for me to pick it up and read that one in one sitting like what I did with part one. I have known of Darcey in her strictly come dancing days and I found her funny, when she left I thought I wouldn’t hear much of her until I was in a shop and I found part one to four of magic ballerina I knew I was struck on buying this. Darcey is one good writer and making a series is definitely a good idea since I’m so excited to read all of the other parts and then buy the rest from Amazon and this will be a fun journey to read more of magic ballerina and I’m excited to see part two in my hands ready to be opened soon!
November 11, 2021
Nie ma Cardana, nie ma ulubionego bohatera... (Okrutny książę wszedł za mocno XDXD)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2013
This is book number 1 of the magical fairy tale of ballerinas and fairies. It is written by a Prima Ballerina named Darcey Russell. Darcey loves to share her knowledge of the world of ballet, and she reveals this through the Magic Ballerina series.
This series is for the early readers of 6-8years and probably more inclined for girls, so it is not a book I would use for reading aloud to the class but is definitely a series I would have available for students in the classroom to read and peruse as it can be brought in to create discussion about different sports like ballet and how ballet has an amazing history and how we see ballet today.
This first book is about a young ballerina who has enchanted slippers, her name is Delphie Durand. Delphie Durand would love to be a ballerina but her parents cannot afford to send her to lessons, so she borrows and reads every book she can get her hands on to teach herself the art of ballet. Delphie watches and is super jealous over the students that are able to attend the studio of Madame Zarakova's Dance School, she is better known as Madam Za-Za.
On one of these special days Madame Za-Za spots Delphie peering in through the window and invites her in, and even more special than that is that Delphie is given a leotard and red ballet slippers and asked to return to the ballet school the next day. Madam Za-Za was going to teach her for FREE! Oh the excitement in this book, you can really feel for young Delphie.
So of course the next day she returns and loves her ballet lesson, she goes home that night to read about the Nutcracker which is a story and there is a famous ballet based upon it. This is when Delphie is first exposed to the land of Enchantia, the red ballet slippers are magical and they have taken her there for and adventure. The adventure is based around the story of the Nutcracker and she first meets the Sugar Plum fairy who tells her of the problem in Enchantia. Together they must resolve the problem to balance the state of affairs in Enchantia and bring the Nutcracker back to life so he can fill the land with joy once more and they can all dance.
It is a lovely story that you have to keep on reading in order to find out the magical end. What is nice is that the story continues and follows on in the next range of books. So keep going you will be with the fairies soon.
This series is for the early readers of 6-8years and probably more inclined for girls, so it is not a book I would use for reading aloud to the class but is definitely a series I would have available for students in the classroom to read and peruse as it can be brought in to create discussion about different sports like ballet and how ballet has an amazing history and how we see ballet today.
This first book is about a young ballerina who has enchanted slippers, her name is Delphie Durand. Delphie Durand would love to be a ballerina but her parents cannot afford to send her to lessons, so she borrows and reads every book she can get her hands on to teach herself the art of ballet. Delphie watches and is super jealous over the students that are able to attend the studio of Madame Zarakova's Dance School, she is better known as Madam Za-Za.
On one of these special days Madame Za-Za spots Delphie peering in through the window and invites her in, and even more special than that is that Delphie is given a leotard and red ballet slippers and asked to return to the ballet school the next day. Madam Za-Za was going to teach her for FREE! Oh the excitement in this book, you can really feel for young Delphie.
So of course the next day she returns and loves her ballet lesson, she goes home that night to read about the Nutcracker which is a story and there is a famous ballet based upon it. This is when Delphie is first exposed to the land of Enchantia, the red ballet slippers are magical and they have taken her there for and adventure. The adventure is based around the story of the Nutcracker and she first meets the Sugar Plum fairy who tells her of the problem in Enchantia. Together they must resolve the problem to balance the state of affairs in Enchantia and bring the Nutcracker back to life so he can fill the land with joy once more and they can all dance.
It is a lovely story that you have to keep on reading in order to find out the magical end. What is nice is that the story continues and follows on in the next range of books. So keep going you will be with the fairies soon.
August 24, 2015
This is a lovely children’s book that is bursting with suspense, excitement and wonder. In this story we learn of Delphie, a young girl obsessed with ballet who longs to take classes at Madame Zaravkova’s dance school. Unfortunately, Delphie’s parents cannot afford to send her to this ballet school so Delphie satisfies her desire by reading as many books as she can, and teaching herself the steps. One day, Delphie is walking home from school when she sees two girls running up the path to the ballet school. Delphie sneaks up and watches from the window. While standing outside in the cold, Delphie joins in with the ballet moves and is spotted by Madame Zarakova. Madame Zarakova brings her in and compliments her on her beautiful dancing. She gives Delphie a leotard and a special pair of red ballet shoes; she tells her that the shoes are very special and have been waiting for the right person to come along. Delphie is shocked when Madame Zarakova states she will teach her for free. Delphie is ecstatic and runs home to tell her parents the amazing news. That night, Delphie’s ballet shoes begin to glow and they whisk her away to a magical land called Enchantia.
The author very cleverly models the land of Enchantia from the story of “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice.” Delphie meets the Sugar Plum Fairy who explains that Evil King Rat has captured the Nutcracker. Without the magic of the Nutcracker no one can dance. Together they set off on a journey to save the Nutcracker and restore the magic to the land.
‘The Magic Ballet Shoes’ is the first book in a series which follows Delphie on her ballet adventures. Although the story is fairly straightforward, I feel it is best suited to KS1, although some readers at KS2 would also enjoy this book. It seems to be directed more to girls, so I don’t feel it would work very well in a class lesson, unless used in a P.E lesson on dance forms/body movement. Despite this, I would still encourage children to read this book as it is very enjoyable.
The author uses correct ballet terms such as 'Pliés' and 'Battements tendu.' Children may need help with the pronunciation of these words. The author has also included a guide to the basic ballet steps at the back of the book which children may enjoy doing.
The author very cleverly models the land of Enchantia from the story of “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice.” Delphie meets the Sugar Plum Fairy who explains that Evil King Rat has captured the Nutcracker. Without the magic of the Nutcracker no one can dance. Together they set off on a journey to save the Nutcracker and restore the magic to the land.
‘The Magic Ballet Shoes’ is the first book in a series which follows Delphie on her ballet adventures. Although the story is fairly straightforward, I feel it is best suited to KS1, although some readers at KS2 would also enjoy this book. It seems to be directed more to girls, so I don’t feel it would work very well in a class lesson, unless used in a P.E lesson on dance forms/body movement. Despite this, I would still encourage children to read this book as it is very enjoyable.
The author uses correct ballet terms such as 'Pliés' and 'Battements tendu.' Children may need help with the pronunciation of these words. The author has also included a guide to the basic ballet steps at the back of the book which children may enjoy doing.
May 11, 2022
this is the book that made me fall in love with reading when i was something like 7 or 8. all this series is so amazing and makes me feel so nostalgic. ballet hasn’t even ever been my thing but idk, these books were so amazing and i really wanna reread them. definitely making my future kids read this series.
March 22, 2022
I like how Delphi is like "oh wow there's some ballet going on" and I like how the ballet shoes sparkle when something in enchantia is going wrong and they need her help. And the stories about this girl Delphi who gets these special ballet shoes. It was one of the best stories.
October 3, 2024
I absolutely loved this story! I listened to it on audio and enjoyed every second of it. I would recommend this to every child I know. I just wish I had gotten the next books in the series because now I have to wait a while to get to book 2.
January 15, 2018
Short, Sweet, Magical, Cute, Heartwarming
January 28, 2018
It was okay
February 3, 2019
hi this is 2019 15 year old me who remembers that 6 year old me loved this book so,,,,,yeet
(i'm going to repeat this statement for literally every book i add to my children's literature shelf okay)
(i'm going to repeat this statement for literally every book i add to my children's literature shelf okay)
November 13, 2019
Another blast from the past, the story is as good reading it as a young adult as it was as a child, and for young children who love ballet it is a perfect read and beautiful story.
February 26, 2020
Z tohoto dílu měla N. ošklive sny :-/ Mě to taky úplně nenadchlo
June 16, 2020
I love this book and even though ballet is not my thing this book is still so AMAZING and I can’t wait to read book 2
January 15, 2021
I Liked the book a lot really was great!
February 2, 2021
When I read this I felt as though I was there . It's an excellent portray of words
March 27, 2022
So nice loved the story I love the nutcracker.
April 25, 2022
Very nostalgic re-read reminding me why I loved this series so much as a kid
October 9, 2022
Whilst I appreciate this is a children's book I have loved it
August 10, 2023
Pure Nostalgia. That's all I have to say lol
April 17, 2024
this was really good and I loved how the story incorporated the nut cracker tale and other characters. It was just amazing, I love it.
May 11, 2024
Loved it as a child and still love it now!
June 15, 2024
Very interesting
September 2, 2024
Wonderful books to read to our GrandDaughters
November 24, 2024
I read these as a child and I loved them
December 14, 2024
Well written, captivating little story for little girls who love ballet. MC 9yo.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews