Ready to Fly: How Sylvia Townsend Became the Bookmobile Ballerina
What's This Book About
Publisher Summary
An inspiring picture book for little ballerinas everywhere!
Ready to Fly is the true story of Sylvia Townsend, an African American girl who falls in love with ballet after seeing Swan Lake on TV.
Although there aren’t many ballet schools that will accept a girl like Sylvia in the 1950s, her local bookmobile provides another possibility. A librarian helps Sylvia find a book about ballet and the determined seven-year-old, with the help of her new books, starts teaching herself the basics of classical ballet.
Soon Sylvia learns how to fly—how to dance—and how to dare to dream.
Lyrical, easy-to-read, and affecting text paired with bright, appealing illustrations make Ready to Fly perfect for aspiring ballerinas everywhere who are ready to leap and to spread their wings.
Includes a foreword from Sylvia Townsend, a brief history of the bookmobile, an author’s note, and a further reading list.
What Kind of Book is Ready to Fly: How Sylvia Townsend Became the Bookmobile Ballerina
- Categories:
- biography
- Themes:
- dance
- African Americans
Book Lists That Include Ready to Fly: How Sylvia Townsend Became the Bookmobile Ballerina
Who Wrote Ready to Fly: How Sylvia Townsend Became the Bookmobile Ballerina
Lea Lyon has illustrated six award-winning picture books, including Say Something and Playing War. Lea is the illustrator coordinator for the SCBWI San Francisco/South region. Ready to Fly is her first published picture book as an author. Visit her at www.lealyon.com.
A. LaFaye has published over a dozen books, including the Skipping Stones Honor Book Walking Home to Rosie Lee and Follow Me Down to Nicodemus Town. You can catch up with A. LaFaye at www.alafaye.com or @artlafaye.
Who Illustrated Ready to Fly: How Sylvia Townsend Became the Bookmobile Ballerina
Jessica Gibson is a mostly self-taught freelance illustrator who graduated from Wayne County Community College with an associate of arts degree. Though she primarily illustrates children’s books, Jessica also creates artwork for magazines and has an interest in character design. With a pen and tablet by her side, she loves creating adorable, whimsical, and sometimes quirky illustrations, ready to brighten up everyone’s heart. You can visit her at www.jessicamgibson.com.
What Has Lea Lyon Said About This Book
What Has Alexandria LaFaye Said About This Book
What Has Jessica Gibson Said About This Book
Lea Lyon's Book Dedication
For Sylvia, who was kind enough to share her story with me, and for my dear friend Mary Ann, who introduced me to the amazing bookmobile ballerina.
Alexandria LaFaye's Book Dedication
For Regan: Know your own worth, celebrate your gifts, spread your wings, and fly!
Jessica Gibson's Book Dedication
To my loving, supportive family, especially my mother, who always believed in my creative talent.
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Book Details
- ISBN 10:
- 0062888781
- ISBN 13:
- 9780062888785
- Publication Date:
- January 28, 2020
- Illustration Details:
- The artist used Photoshop CC and a Wacom Cintiq drawing tablet to create the digital illustrations for this book.