Where’s the Ballerina?

Young dancers are a natural audience for this introduction to 10 ballets, in which synopses of the stories alternate with wordless scenes where readers must locate various characters. Goh’s dainty illustrations reflect the grace of the performers and the diverse settings, from the dusty hills of 17th-century Barcelona for “Don Quixote” to the sugary enchantments of the Land of Sweets in “The Nutcracker.” Several ballets are tragedies, though, and Claybourne doesn’t tiptoe around the gory details. “Angry about the false love between Solor and Gamzatti, the gods destroy the temple and everyone in it,” concludes “La Bayadère,” set in ancient India. “Solor and Nikiya are together again in death.” Ages 5–9. (Sept.)