Tallulah's Solo

May 28, 2012
Tallulah, the aspiring ballerina whose tutu tunnel vision led to a meltdown in Tallulah’s Tutu, is as determined as ever to achieve her dancing dream. But when her brother, Beckett, who does nothing but pick his nose and goof off in ballet class, wins a bigger role than she does in a production of The Frog Prince, Tallulah is seriously chagrined. Though Tallulah’s turnaround is a tad hasty, Singer conveys her initial frustration and disappointment with authenticity, while Boiger’s gouache and watercolor art is as fluid and graceful as a pirouette. Ages 4–8. Illustrator’s agent: Marcia Wernick, Wernick & Pratt.

June 1, 2013

PreS-Gr 2-Tallulah is a wonderful dancer and she's certain that she will be chosen for the principal role in the upcoming ballet recital. However, she's worried that her scatter-brained younger brother, Beckett, who just began taking ballet lessons, might not be chosen even for a minor part. As Tallulah warns and encourages Beckett, she imagines the accolades that will come her way when she stars in the production, complete with thunderous applause and beautiful bouquets. Tallulah is dismayed when Beckett earns a leading role and she is relegated to the cast. Although the story line is immersed in the world of dance, Singer's picture book (Clarion, 2012) offers a lesson in handling the universal feelings of disappointment and sibling jealousy. She doesn't shy away from the messiness of emotions, but rather offers an honest perspective of Tallulah's tantrum and her need to be noticed. Alexandra Boiger's watercolor illustrations and her use of fainter washes to depict Tallulah's imagination are brilliant. Christina Moore's narration is clear and precise, and she accurately portrays Beckett's character in just four syllables, "Uh-huh, uh-huh." Page-turn signals are optional.-Terri Perper, Middletown Public Library, MD

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