Ballet Magic Pop-Up Book

As this dainty little book points out-as does Ruth Tilden's Sophie's Dance Class (Children's Forecasts, Feb. 12)-ballet lends itself particularly well to the pop-up/pull-tab format. Thoughtful paper engineering allows the reader to rehearse at least a rudimentary version of specific steps, jumps and twirls. Here, traditional, painterly illustrations show young adult dancers (at least twice the age of the target audience) in various ballet-related activities, at the barre and on the stage. Before the performance, there is practice. ""Can you do a split?"" asks the unseen narrator. Out pops a ballerina executing a perfect split stretch. In dress rehearsal, a dancer leaps through the air in a graceful grand jete (""It feels like flying!""). Then the curtain goes up, and the red-draped stage, the dancers and the audience pop out in the multi-dimensional final spread. Although the staid illustrations deprive this book of the pixie-ish appeal of Sophie's Dance Class, its homage to a well-loved art will encourage encore readings. Ages 3-6. (Apr.)