Of Swans, Sugarplums, and Satin Slippers: Ballet Stories for Children

Who better to pen a collection of classic ballet stories than a former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet? Verdy pulls out all the stops in this unabashedly romantic assembly of half a dozen of ballet's most famous and beloved stories. Coppelia , Sleeping Beauty , Swan Lake , The Nutcracker , Giselle , The Firebird --they're all here, and Verdy spins their tales with the assuredness of a natural-born storyteller. The accounts here are fresh, dramatic and lush with detail, and the prose is as graceful as a pas de deux. A short foreword to each story gives historical background, as well as occasional personal glimpses from Verdy's own dancing career. Highlighting scenes from each of the ballets, Caldecott medalist Brown's ( Shadow ; Once a Mouse ) dreamy, ethereal illustrations sustain the entrancing mood. This is required reading for all balletomanes. Ages 7-11. (Oct.)