Ballerina Swan

February 15, 2012
A beautiful swan realizes her dream of dancing when cast in Swan Lake. Sophie is a city swan who watches children in a ballet studio with great longing. She flies in and, after an initial rebuke, summons her courage to return. A new teacher and the students now welcome her as one of their own. Well almost. Sophie's long neck gives her a naturally elegant line, but her webbed feet make turnout difficult. Then a choreographer creates a special role for Sophie in an end-of-year student performance, and she literally soars to fame as a swan princess. Kent was an acclaimed dancer with New York City Ballet, and in this, her first book for children, she captures the workings of a ballet class with both authority and tenderness. McCully, a Caldecott medalist, uses watercolors and pen-and-ink for delicate and detailed paintings. Sophie is imbued with a winning personality. In a series of close-ups, she displays her determination to hone her technique and style, a drive matched by that of the students, who show off some of the classic Swan Lake moments to great effect--notably the dance for the four cygnets. An enchanting tale for all, especially for lovers of ballet. Read the story, play the music and applaud. (Picture book. 3-8)

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Starred review from April 1, 2012

K-Gr 2-Sophie, a cygnet, courageously leaves her park pond to struggle upstairs to the dance studio that has entranced her. She attempts to join the class plies, but is shooed away by hatchet-faced Madam Myrtle. A new teacher is more accepting of Sophie's attempts, praising her grand jete and working with her webbed turnout. Difficult auditions for a performance of Swan Lake seem to turn out badly until Madam Myrtle points out a special role that has been created for Sophie, whose commitment is rewarded by a stellar performance. McCully's famed delicate pen-and-ink and watercolor artwork is an ideal match for the topic. The artist balances the comic (Sophie using an Ipod for practice) with the sublime; the swan's final jump is utterly lovely. A variety of dancers, including males, appears in the troupe, but none will win hearts as quickly as the titular character.-Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2012
Preschool-G Kent, who danced the role of Odette in Swan Lake for the New York City Ballet, makes her picture-book debut with this story of an unlikely web-footed dancer. From her pond in the city, Sophie the swan watches ballet classes at Madam Myrtle's Dance Studio, until one day when she waddles over to attend class. She is shooed by Madam, but luckily the humiliating episode doesn't quell Sophie's love of dance. Eventually Sophie auditions for a role in Swan Lake. At first she doesn't see her name on the cast list, but Madam points out that it's there, printed on the back. This fish-out-of-water story may appeal to aspiring ballerinas and boost the confidence of kids hindered by two left feet. The text is bolstered by Caldecott Medalwinning illustrator McCully's (Mirette on the High Wire, 1992) loose watercolors, and her images of a swan doing plies and grand jetes are worth the price of admission. A glossary explains unfamiliar ballet terms.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)