Angelina Ballerina 25th Anniversary Edition [Hardcover]

Katharine Holabird (Author), Helen Craig (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: September 4, 2008 | Age Range: 3 - 5 years | Series: Angelina Ballerina

It’s been twenty-five years since Angelina danced her way into the hearts of young ballerinas, and she’s still going strong. A true modern classic, Angelina continues to be adored by her legions of fans. Celebrate her twenty-fifth anniversary with this special edition of the original book that started it all. Featuring a lavish jacket that’s as sparkly as one of Angelina’s costumes, this book is the perfect way to commemorate her anniversary.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The writing is crisp and clear, the illustrations detailed with a lovely sense of movement and emotion Guardian Angelina is a magical character who fulfils every little girl's dreams Darcey Bussell, OBE --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

Illus. in full color. Angelina is so busy dancing that she does nothing else. Her parents are in despair until they send her to ballet school --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Age Range: 3 - 5 years
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile; Anv Rep edition (September 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670011177
• ISBN-13: 978-0670011179
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 10.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,312 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #7 in Books > Children's Books > Arts, Crafts & Music > Performing Arts > Dance
  • #24 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Mice, Hamsters, Guinea Pigs & Squirrels

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun for any aspiring ballerina August 1, 2002

By Catherine S. Vodrey

Format:Hardcover

Katharine Holabird's "Angelina Ballerina" is fun for any aspiring ballerina. Angelina Mouseling--a wee white mouse--loves to dance, to the exclusion of all other activities. She won't clean her room, she won't help clear the table, she listens to neither her mother or her father because she is dancing, dancing, dancing at every waking moment. Everything changes when her parents recognize that her interest needs to be taken seriously. Mr. and Mrs. Mouseling do just that when they go shopping and come home with--ooooh!--a ballerina's tutu for Angelina to wear.

Shortly thereafter, Angelina begins ballet lessons. Her perseverence pays off and she becomes a famous ballerina. In the interim, however, the attention her parents have paid to her love of ballet pays off in the form of her willingness to do all the things she didn't want to do before, because now she can dance all she likes in ballet class and in recitals.

I agree with the comments that have been made about the subdued sexism here. Angelina is presented as someone who is too fast and too nimble for the boys on the playground, but later in the book--once she has gotten what she wants--she is described as letting the boys catch her after all. It's a jarring note in an otherwise perfectly charming book.

Special mention must be made of Helen Craig's detailed, charming drawings. She doesn't completely anthropomorphize the mouse characters--they are clearly little animals, with anatomically correct limbs and quivering whiskers, but Craig somehow manages to humanize them and make them utterly winsome and dear. All around a very nice book for the aspiring ballerina!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars She's one great mouse!! April 5, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This is by far my daughter's favorite book, and I'm glad. Angelina is a wonderful little girl (mouse) and a great role model. She has a dream, to be a ballerina, and the book is all about her hard work and determination in fulfilling that dream. At the end of the book, you feel the delight of her achievement, and hopefully, go away feeling that you too can achieve the dreams of your heart.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Story, but 25th Edition wasn't as nice as I thought it would be January 30, 2010

By A. Bucci

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I wanted to let everyone know that this "special" 25th edition, really isn't all that special after all. The book jacket does have a special glitter on it that wasn't in the original. However, with my 2 year old, the book jackets quickly are taken off of books and put away for safe keeping.

Underneath the jacket, the main cover is rather washed out with no vivid colors and no glitter. Aside from a small 25 year logo in the upper right hand corner of the book, there isn't any other special features that I could see.

Also, throughout the book, the illustrations appear to be not as vivid in color as the older one we were constantly checking out from the library. It is close, but not quite as vibrant. And the last page has sort of strong orange overtones as if the printing was a little off. Probably not noticable if you hadn't seen another copy, but disappointing to me because I am so familiar with the older library edition.

It is printed in China and you can tell it from the cheap quality of the cover and not as vivid illustrations as the older library edition.

Still a wonderful book. However I would recommend trying to get the regular edition and not the 25th edition. But if the regular edition or a used copy of the regular edition in good condition is not available, then get this one. All young girls love to read this over and over and having your own copy is great.