Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 07/01/2018 Every little ballerina dreams of dancing the lead role, whether as the Sugar Plum Fairy or a beautiful princess. But for every fluttering butterfly, there needs to be a glowworm or two, and that’s exactly what Rosa, the newest and youngest dancer in class, receives as her assignment. After dissolving in tears at home, her grandmother tells her that when her class put on Alice in Wonderland, Grandma’s friend got to be Alice, but Grandma got the part of the Teapot. Their laughter makes things better, as do the kindnesses shown by the other young ballerinas. Showtime comes and everyone is perfect—especially a little glowworm. The story is told in present tense, with expressive verbs that evoke movement, and brief sentences that occasionally dip and float across pages. The illustrations effectively capture expressive nuances, and the end pages are filled with detailed drawings. The other dancers, including a boy, are appealing and supportive, and readers will appreciate this tale of friendship, whether they’re wannabe prima ballerinas or not. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.