DANCING CLASS

Stage mommies can offer a bit of bibliotherapy to budding baby ballerinas with this delightful introduction to ballet class, the second collaboration between Ehrlich and Rader (Dr. Duck, 2000). In simple, light-hearted rhyming couplets, the storyline follows a plump pink piglet as she arrives at the dance studio, dons her tutu, tights, and ballet slippers, and takes her first class from Ms. Henrietta Henley, a kindly mother-hen type. The young pig can’t always make her feet do what everyone else’s are doing, and she takes a tumble after hurting her toe. “Piggy falls and bumps her face. Teacher says, ‘It’s no disgrace,’ ” as she wipes away Piggy’s tears with a lace-trimmed handkerchief. Rader’s cheery pen-and-ink with watercolor illustrations are full of clever details, and she gives each animal dancer and their teacher and accompanist distinct personalities. The order followed in ballet classes around the world is skillfully worked into the text, with a polite curtsy to end the class and the book. This charming title will leap off the shelves and straight into the hands of all those little girls (and their moms and grandmas) with dreams of dance recitals and pretty pink tutus. (Picture book. 2-6)