I Dreamed I was a Ballerina

Written by Anna Pavlova · Illustrated by Edgar Degas

A girl's first ballet sparks dreams of becoming a legendary dancer.

5.3/7 Bookroo expert·4.2/5 Goodreads · 284 ratings

32 pages· 450 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud

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Bookroo's summary

Anna Pavlova's first ballet experience ignites a passion that transforms her life. Captivated by the enchanting performance of Sleeping Beauty, young Anna dreams of dancing on stage. Her journey from a mesmerized child to a world-renowned ballerina unfolds with the magic of a fairytale, beautifully illustrated with Edgar Degas' art. Will her dreams lead her to greatness, or will the challenges of the dance world prove too daunting? Discover the inspiring tale of a girl whose love for ballet changed her destiny.

From the publisher

Every girl remembers her first trip to the ballet: the anticipation beforehand, the orchestra’s first notes, the ethereal beauty of the ballerinas. This is a tale of one such girl who was caught up in ballet’s mesmerizing spell and became one of the greatest ballerinas of all time.

In a story drawn from her memoirs, Anna Pavlova describes her first visit to the ballet to see the Sleeping Beauty. With simple, childlike language, she captures her love for her mother, the splendor of the ballet, and the moments that changed her life. The words are matched with paintings, pastels, and drawings of the French Impressionist Edgar Degas, to give this story all the magic of a fairytale.

Complete with short biographies of Pavlova and Degas, I Dreamed I Was a Ballerina will delight any child with ballerina dreams.

At a glance

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 32
Words: 450
Reading age: 8–12
Audience: Picture
Lexile: AD1030L

Themes & topics

Books about ballet Books about 1900-1949 Books about girls and women Books about childhood Books about 1850-1899

What readers & critics say

Reviews

5.3

out of 7

5.3

“Gorgeous! Two great artists meet in these pages, with Anna Pavlova's story and Edgar Degas's artwork. The paintings used perfectly illustrate each page of the text. It's inspiring and brief--perfect for young ballerinas.”

Lauren Hancock

Trusted reviewer

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