Ballet, and other forms of dance, are a big thing for the younger members of this household - sadly, their parents both have two left feet - so we enjoy ballet books when we find them. Even if your children are not dancers themselves, there are plenty of stories here that are well worth reading.

Three orphan children are collected along with his other specimens by a fossil hunter who deposits them with his niece Sylvia. When Great-Uncle Matthew fails to return from an expedition the money left to keep them runs out and the children have to learn to use their own talents. When they are enrolled in a stage school Pauline discovers her acting talent, Petrova learns that she can do things she thought impossible, and Posy gets the chance to dance.

Ballet Stories

The Nutcracker by Berlie Doherty

A beautifully illustrated retelling of the Nutcracker story. Perfect for reading before watching the ballet.

The Orchard Book of Stories from the Balletby Geraldine MacCaughrean

The Orchard story collections are a lovely addition to any home library. This book tells the stories of ten different ballets, ranging from Romeo and Juliet to the Firebird. Great stories to read in their own right, or as preparation for watching one of the ballets.

Non-Fiction

DK Superguides: Balletby Darcy Bussell in association with the Royal Ballet School (formerly published as The Young Dancer)

Clear explanation of different ballet techniques, together with background information for young dancers.

Ballet and Art

Degas and the Little Dancer by Laurence Anholt

Laurence Anholt has written several picture books telling stories connected with great artists for young children. In this book he neatly combines art and ballet, with the story of Marie, a young dancer who becomes the model for Degas' clay statue of a ballet dancer.

Edgar Degas: Dance Like a Butterfly by Angela Wenzel

Another book focusing on the ballet loving artist Degas. Why not take advantage of enthusiasm for ballet to spark an interest in art?

Picture Books for Young Children

Rosie's First Ballet Lesson (US title: Rosie's Ballet Slippers) by Susan Hampshire

A nice picture book to read before a little girl's first ballet lesson.

Easy Reading

The Little Ballerina by Sally Grindley (DK: Eyewitness Readers, Level 2)

A short illustrated story about a ballet school show, written for children just beginning to read alone. Also includes fact boxes with a little basic information about ballet.

Lessons for Lucy by Antonia Barber

The first of twelve books in the Dancing Shoes series. Easy to read books for younger children. Not great literature, but just right for a child developing fluency in reading. My elder daughter enjoyed them enough to read the whole series. I think most of the books are currently out of print, but should be available from libraries.

Fiction

Ballet Shoes for Anna by Noel Streatfeild

Another ballet book by Noel Streatfeild. A young girl and her brothers are orphaned by an earthquake. Not only does she lose her family and her home, but she also loses her dancing lessons. How can she make an unsympathetic uncle see that she must learn to dance?

Dancing Shoes by Noel Streatfeild

Orphaned Rachel and her adopted sister Hilary are sent to live with Rachel's uncle, dance troupe manager aunt, and spoilt cousin Dulcie. Hilary loves learning to dance in a "Little Wonders" troupe, but Rachel is determined that Hilary must go to the Royal Ballet School.

Listen to the Nightingale by Rumer Godden

A high quality book by an author who wrote beautiful, delicate prose for both adults and children. Ten year old Lottie longs to be a ballet dancer, but struggles to adjust to life at ballet school.

Lucy Jane at the Ballet by Susan Hampshire

We enjoyed this series of four books by the actress Susan Hampshire, following the likeable Lucy Jane from her first encounter with ballet through to a trip to train at a Russian ballet school. The other titles in the series are Lucy Jane on Television

Lucy Jane and the Dancing Competition

Lucy Jane and the Russian Ballet

I was disappointed to discover that not only are these now out of print, but our library no longer has copies.