The Cranky Ballerina

Written & illustrated by Elise Gravel

A reluctant ballerina discovers unexpected joy in her ungraceful moves.

3.5/7 Bookroo expert·3.9/5 Goodreads · 601 ratings

32 pages

$17.99Save 7%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Ada despises ballet class, but a chance encounter in the hallway changes everything. Her clumsy dance steps catch the eye of someone who sees potential where she sees failure. As Ada navigates her emotions, she learns that embracing her feelings can lead to surprising growth. Will she find something to love in what she once loathed? This lively tale explores the journey from frustration to self-discovery, inviting young readers to find joy in unexpected places. Perfect for those who love ballet—and those who don't—Ada's story is a delightful dance of humor and heart.

From the publisher

Ada hates everything about ballet class, yet she still has to go! Arabesques? Grotesque! And then one Saturday, Ada pliés right out the door and into the hallway, smacking into someone who thinks her ungraceful moves are great! In the tradition of Kevin Henkes’s Lilly books and Russell and Lillian Hoban’s Frances classics, Ada is a plucky little kid with her own way of thinking. Through Ada’s stubbornness and emotional honesty, author/illustrator Elise Gravel shows her understanding of how kids feel and why. She shows us that anger is normal and feeling our emotions leads to growth! This short, funny, energetic book—full of word bubbles that enhance visual literacy and Gravel’s signature vibrant illustrations—is a great choice for both reading aloud and reading independently for emergent readers. Children who love ballet—and definitely those who don’t—will delight in this clever, subversive tale about a kid who has to do what she doesn’t like in order to discover what she loves.

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