Time for Ballet

by Adèle Geras, Shelagh McNicholas (Illustrator)

Tilly loves her ballet class.  What could be more fun?  She gets to wear special clothes, try out fancy new positions, and do her best cat impression.  But, when it's time for the big recital, Tilly learns another aspect of the preperformance jitters! Perfect for the beginning ballerina, this gentle text combined with exuberant wand warm illustrations captures the joy and excitement brought on by everything from wearing your first tutu to practicing your first plié.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 17, 2001

About the author

Adèle Geras FRSL (born 15 March 1944) is an English writer for young children, teens and adults. Her husband was the Marxist academic Norman Geras and their daughter Sophie Hannah is also a novelist and poet.

Geras was born in Jerusalem, British Mandatory Palestine. Her father was in the Colonial Service and she had a varied childhood, living in countries such as Nigeria, Cyprus, Tanzania, Gambia and British North Borneo in a short span of time. She attended Roedean School in Brighton and then graduated from St Hilda's College, Oxford with a degree in Modern Languages. She was known for her stage and vocal talents, but decided instead to become a full-time writer.

Geras's first book was Tea at Mrs Manderby's, which was published in 1976. Her first full-length novel was The Girls in the Velvet Frame. She has written more than 95 books for children, young adults, and adults. Her best-known books are Troy (shortlisted for the Whitbread Prize and Highly Commended for the Carnegie Medal) Ithaka, Happy Ever After (previously published as the Egerton Hall Trilogy), Silent Snow, Secret Snow, and A Thousand Yards of Sea.

Her novels for adults include: Facing the Light, Hester's Story, Made in Heaven, and A Hidden Life.

Geras won two prizes in the United States, one the Sydney Taylor Book Award for the My Grandmother's Stories and the National Jewish Book Award for Golden Windows. She has also won prizes for her poetry and was a joint winner of the Smith Doorstop Poetry Pamphlet Award, offered by the publisher of that name.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Lilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute!
Was one of my favourite books as a kid.

[Whitney]

I would classify this book as an informational book, though it is written as fiction our main characters talks a lot about ballet and what it involves. Tilly loves Tuesdays, because she has ballet class and she loves to dance.
This book can be used while talking about ballet or sports related subjects, it can be turned into a creative arts or writing assignment, and can be a leeway into informational books. I really like how the author walks us through classes and the recital, the book also includes boys and non-pink colors, which is a bonus in this content area.

[Amy Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute simple book for the beginners in ballet class. I think it's appropriate for age 6 and under. My daughter is almost 4 and loved it! It talks about Milly's love for ballet class and about her big show. It's simple and introduces the reader into the world of ballet class. It's made my daughter want to take classes!

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book that introduces ballet for younger children. It shows the basic movements as well as the fun ways to move your body and pretend to be another creature, like a cat. It's a great book to read aloud to children who are about to start ballet class.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for a new to ballet little girl. It appropriate captures the inside of a preschoolers mind from needing help putting on a leotard, to noting the color of your friends tutu, and even getting ready for the big recital. At this house of girls we love Tilly!

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute, yet simple read that is great for girls. Adorable pictures, and a sweet and short story.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well told story of a girl's experience at ballet class and the big recital. Illustrations are warm and expressive--capturing the joy of a child who enjoys dancing.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

rated 5 stars by my 2.5 yo "ballerina" dd. cute pictures. She has learned lots of ballet positions by re-reading this book over & over again.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute illustrations follow a girl at her ballet class and her recital.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice pictures. Cute.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 - an account of going to ballet class. O enjoyed it... She can totally relate... Those clothes are tough to get on!

[Lauri Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a fabulous story but lovely an appropriate as an informational text just right for early ballerinas.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

My four year old loves this.