Ballet Shoes (Paperback)

by Noel Streatfeild (Author), Diane Goode (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 2-4–Narrator Elizabeth Sastre beautifully brings to life the story of three British orphans and their loving caretakers in Noel Streatfield's Ballet Shoes (Random, 1937). Pauline, Petrova, and Posie start life off as carefree children, but when their adopted Great Uncle Max (a.k.a. Gum) disappears on a fossil hunting expedition, the young girls find themselves becoming the breadwinners of the family. As stage performers they are able to give back to the only family they have ever known, and have their own adventures while they're at it. This charming and often humorous story stands the test of time. The strong female characters solve many conflicts on their own. In the end, each girl is also able to choose her own path in life. Sastre gives each character a distinctive voice and conveys the warmth and vivacity of the story, making this a highly enjoyable audiobook.–April Mazza, Wayland Public Library, MA --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
Entertaining and distinctly unusual. An elderly scientist gathers three strays under his wing, adopts them, and leaves them with a niece and a family servant and presumably ample funds while he goes off on an expedition. He disappears - the funds run low - the oddly assorted little family take boarders and new fields open up. One of the boarders installs all three children in the school of the ballet, as groundwork for helping support themselves and their benefactor, should he reappear. The eldest and the youngest take to it like ducks to water; the middle one yearns for a career as a flier. Details of the training, acting, dancing, pantomime, languages - ballet in the English tradition. A good job, with enough and not too much of the vocational slant, and originality and charm. (Kirkus Reviews) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (November 23, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679847596
• ISBN-13: 978-0679847595
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #68,027 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #41 in	Books > Children's Books > Arts & Music > Performing Arts > Fiction
  #77 in	Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Family Life > Orphans & Foster Homes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book for Young Girls, July 1, 2001

By	Susan C (Sanford, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ballet Shoes (School & Library Binding)

I cannot even begin to count how many times I read this book when I was in elementary school. I must have checked it out from the library over 20 times. Finally, my mother found it in the bookstore and I could check out other books. This book was a wonderful influence on me and really did help me to grow in my understanding of the world of theatre, dance, and literature. I still think of this book when I read or see A Midsummer Night's Dream and the philosophy about acting that you should say exactly what is written because the author wrote it the way they wanted it has influence me both as a playwright and actor.

This book presents a wonderfully bright world for a child, especially one that is interested in the arts. The book also presents a very female oriented world that is not all romance novels and sweet valley high. This is one of the top books on my list to give to my niece when she's old enough. I might even read it to her myself.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful and charming story!, April 3, 2006

By	Kind Bean "can't read enough" (New England, USA) - See all my reviews

I loved this book! It is the story of three orphans, Pauline, Petrova, and Posy, who are adopted by an older man who is gone during most of the book. After going through most of the money that he has left for their care until his return, the three sisters attend a special school of the arts. There they can learn to act, dance, and sing; then they can get jobs in different performances making money. Pauline falls in love with acting, Posy is a natural dancer, and poor Petrova would rather fix cars and learn to fly planes than be on stage. All the characters are wonderful and a joy to read about, the story is unique and charming. I simply didn't want it to end. The sisters are fun characters that children will love to read about. Adults will enjoy this story just as much.

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a childhood must-read, January 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Ballet Shoes (School & Library Binding)

Ballet shoes -- and all of Noel Streatfield's "shoes" stories -- were by far my favorite books as a child. My copy of Ballet Shoes is nearly worn out from being read so many times. The mix of fantasy and reality is perfect -- it sparks a child's imagination of what could, just maybe, happen to her. Interestingly, the "shoes" series was given a bit of publicity in the recent flick "You've Got Mail;" perhaps one of the movie's writers was a fan of Streatfield as well? In any case, I'd recommend this book to any child . . . and any adult wishing to relive childhood through the eyes of three orphaned -- but very lucky -- British children.