We Love Ballet!

by Jane Feldman

IT'S SEPTEMBER, AND it’s time for school—ballet school! Join a class of the youngest ballet students as they learn about music, balance, teamwork, and even have a recital. A perfect first ballet book.

Praise for Jane Feldman’s I Am A Dancer:

“An attractive, up-to-date photo essay that will appeal to budding dancers. . . .”—School Library Journal

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

24 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2004

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Purchased for A full price at Barnes & Noble, read together twice since then in 2017. First time she read to herself.

[Dori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Love Ballet! is a nonfiction book that I would recommend for children ages 2-4 years who are interested in ballet. In this photo essay the reader follows one young dancer named Ursula through her world of dance. Ursula and the other dancers and instructors in the book are from the Steps on Broadway dance studio in NYC, and most of the young dancers appear to be ages 3-5 years old. Written in first-person narrative, Ursula teaches the reader about ballet through her daily activities that surround ballet. The reader is introduced to the five basic ballet positions of the feet; basic dance moves like plié, relevé, and passé; basics of barre and center work; stretching basics; and more. The photo-essay format will appeal to those aged 2-4 with its scrapbook-like colorful frames around photos accented with flowers, stripes, hearts, and stars. The first-person narrative makes learning about ballet more relatable to young readers and although there is quite a lot of information relayed, it doesn’t seem overwhelming when read-aloud.

I really think it shines for being very comprehensive but not-overwhelming in its relaying of the information. My 2 ½ year old daughter absolutely loves this book and has really enjoyed learning about ballet with it, it has been a nice introduction for her, she enjoys having it read-aloud but also really enjoys looking through it by herself, it has a lot of nice, detailed photos. She has not become bored with this book and gets it out often, it makes learning about something new both interesting and fun.

[Courteney · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter loves the idea of being a ballerina but hey what little girl doesn't. She wants me to read this book to her all the time and can't wait till she is a little bigger so that she can go to ballet classes. This book is a great read for mother/daughter time and really engages the readers. It excites my daughter with the information and the pictures are great too. This book is a great read and I highly recommend it!

[Christy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Isabella: It wasn't good. The teacher was mean. It was zero stars.

[Sophia Mayor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Through pictures, a little girl tell us all about her love for ballet. She introduces her teacher, her friends, and explains how the ballet class progresses form barre work to stretching, to crossing the floor, etc. She takes us on a visit to the ballet store to buy new slippers for her upcoming recital; and how she brings ballet home through her play and books. At last, the big day of the recital comes and the proud parents clap, while the kids happily pose for the cameras. My daughters really enjoy this book and my oldest likes to compare her ballet studio to the one picture. I do like the book, but the pictures and printing could be better. Some of the look amateurish.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Through pictures, a little girl tell us all about her love for ballet. She introduces her teacher, her friends, and explains how the ballet class progresses form barre work to stretching, to crossing the floor, etc. She takes us on a visit to the ballet store to buy new slippers for her upcoming recital; and how she brings ballet home through her play and books. At last, the big day of the recital comes and the proud parents clap, while the kids happily pose for the cameras. My daughters really enjoy this book and my oldest likes to compare her ballet studio to the one picture. I do like the book, but the pictures and printing could be better. Some of the look amateurish.