Ballet Sisters: The Duckling and the Swan (Scholastic Reader - Level 2) [Hardcover]

Jan Ormerod (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2007 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Scholastic Reader - Level 2

The first book in a fun new series about two sisters who love ballet!

Little Sylvie likes to play dress-up and dance in the garden with her big sister. But Sylvie is too young for ballet class. And Sylvie does NOT want to be an elf in games of pretend.

When an unintentional haircut leaves Sylvie's hair too short for braids, big sister comes to the rescue by creating a set of braids from an old pair of tights!

New readers will delight in the funny antics of little Sylvie and in the patience of her big sister!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2—In this easy reader, two sisters like to put on dress-up clothes and dance. The older girl (the swan) is a slightly bossy school-age child who takes ballet lessons. Sylvie (the duckling) admires and often imitates her, but clearly has a mind of her own. In each of three short chapters, Ormerod uses dancing as a pretext to explore the ups and downs of their relationship. The language, for the most part, is clear, concise, and descriptive-essential qualities for beginning readers. The watercolor illustrations place the girls and their mother on a clean white background, which effectively highlights the expressive detail in their faces and postures. The words and pictures work well together and depict, with subtlety and humor, the emotional life of an ordinary family.—Rachael Vilmar, Atlanta Fulton Public Library, GA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

The unnamed older sister, the story's narrator, takes ballet, and she is the swan. Younger sister Sylvie, a dancer wannabe, is the duckling. This story, with a simple text in a format that will attract beginning readers, follows the sisters as Sylvie tries to emulate her older sibling. Sometimes Sylvie is a willing supplicant, but sometimes she rebels. "I don't want to be an elf," she cries to Sis, who is dressed as the fairy queen. Occasionally, Sylvie's efforts to copy her sister backfire, as when she tries to neaten up her hair like her sister's and cuts it off by mistake. (Sister makes her an adorable braid wig from panty hose.) There's no real story here, but the sisterly relationship resonates, and Ormerod's distinctive illustrations, often featuring just the two girls against a white background, are as sweet as they can be. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Cartwheel Books (February 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439822815
• ISBN-13: 978-0439822817
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,237,781 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Girls not interrrupted., September 23, 2008

By 

Judy K. Polhemus "Book Collector" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ballet Sisters: The Duckling and the Swan (Scholastic Reader - Level 2) (Hardcover)

"Ballet Sisters: The Duckling and the Swan" is an adorable book about being sisters. These two girls are gentle girls, who have learned the fine art of getting along, with an occasional outburst.

What really impresses me is their ease into play situations. The older Sister readily allows her little sister to play with her. But she does make her bow to her as queen.

When Mom puts Big Sister's hair in braids for her early morning ballet lesson, Little Sister tries to do braid her hair. Uh-oh, some hair is sticking out, snip -- Gone! Mom has to even out the hair cut. Big Sister to the rescue again. She takes old panty hose, splits the legs, braids them, and places the new "do" on Slyvie's head. Sylvie is delighted!!

At the ballet class, Sylvie must stay outside the studio because the girls are serious about their lessons. While her sister is rehearsing, Sylvie is having fun being that duckling again. On the way home, the big sister is the Swan and Sylvie is the duckling. They are both as cheerful as can be.

I really like the mother in this story. She rides her bike to school to pick up the older sister with Little Sister firmly entrenched in her booster seat. I guess the mother pushes the bike home. When Sylvie is annoyed to playing an elf, Mom picks her up and swirls her around like a buzzing bee. Calms her right down.

Another point about this story that is really noticeable. The nameless older sister is elegant in every picture. The ballet lessons show in her grace and style. The book is definitely a plug for dance lessons.

"Ballet Sisters" is a winner on many levels. Highly recommended!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Duckling and The Swan, May 29, 2007

By 

Bejae M. Michelli (New Orleans, LA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ballet Sisters: The Duckling and the Swan (Scholastic Reader - Level 2) (Hardcover)

Love this book. Great for anyone who has two daughters. The illustrations are great.

5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect book for young sisters, September 30, 2008

By 

princessrica (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ballet Sisters: The Duckling and the Swan (Scholastic Reader - Level 2) (Hardcover)

My older daughter, a kindergartener, recently brought this book home from the school library. We bought it immediately after it was returned!

It's a huge hit with both my older daughter and her 3 year-old sister. This book could very easily have been written about their lives! The interaction between the sisters in the book is so natural - my girls really identify with it.

There's already a book #2 in the series (big sister gets a name - Bonnie!) and we're looking forward to more.