Ballerina!

S s here uses the format of his successful series for very young boys (Fire Truck; Ship Ahoy!) to strong effect in exploring a girl's love of ballet. Equipped with a trunkful of dress-up clothes, her dancing aspirations and a full-length mirror, young Terry dreams she is a prima ballerina. With each change of dancewear, she transforms: ""She puts on her pink tutu and dances The Nutcracker,"" writes S s, as Terry's reflection shows a graceful, mature ballerina starring as the Sugarplum Fairy. On the next spread, the girl changes into a red leotard, and her exotically dressed reflection leaps over volcanoes in ""a fire dance."" Each spread also illustrates a physical aspect of dance in non-technical terms (""Stretch,"" ""Twirl,"" ""Leap,"" etc.). Older balletomanes can fill in the proper labels, but S s is more interested in a pas de deux with a child experiencing the first thrill of slipping on leotards, tights and dance shoes. Ages 3-up. (Apr.)