Magic Ballerina 13-18

Darcey Bussell's Magic Ballerina 13-18 is a magical ballet collection for 5 year olds about a lonely girl whose old red ballet shoes whisk her off to Enchantia.

What happens

Holly lives with her aunt and uncle while her mum, a ballerina, dances her way round America. Her dad's a dancer too. She's moved about so much that she's decided friends aren't worth it. You only end up having to say goodbye.

So when Chloe at ballet class tries to be kind, Holly snaps at her. (Ouch.)

Back in her bedroom she puts on the red shoes a friend gave her before leaving for London. Her feet start to tingle, the shoes glow, and she lands on a bed of autumn leaves in a wood.

This is Enchantia, where all the characters from the ballets live. Dancing towards her is an enormous White Cat in a gold waistcoat and a feathered hat.

He's the best thing in it. He's bouncy and loving and terrified of water, and he twirls Holly round whenever he's happy (which is most of the time). Who could stay grumpy with him?

The Wicked Fairy from Sleeping Beauty is up to no good. Characters are going missing before a very important dance. Holly has to be braver than she thinks she is, and she finds out she's rather good at being a friend after all.

In the next story she's back again, helping the White Cat find a proud Silver Unicorn before the Wicked Fairy's hunters get to him.

It's gentle and sparkly to read, with proper ballet words dropped in along the way. Pliés, pirouettes and a grand jeté all make an appearance, and there's even a page showing your reader how to do a ballet step.

Holly's feelings are the heart of it, though. Missing a parent and feeling left out at a new class are things lots of children will recognise. She's ten, so a bit older than your reader, and it works nicely as a read-aloud.

If your reader twirls round the kitchen in their socks, they'll probably love this.

What to read next

Holly isn't the first girl to own the red shoes. To go right back to where it all started, the first Magic Ballerina collection follows Delphie, who's desperate for lessons at Madame Za-Za's ballet school.