Bella Ballerina

A cast of children portrayed with various skin tones takes the stage in this kindness-centered collaboration set in a dance class, where “tippy-toe tutu,/ tippy toe twirl,/ Bella Ballerina/ loves to spin and whirl.” As the brown-skinned child learns new vocabulary and skills, occasional wobbles result in classmates steadying her or helping her up. When a big show places Bella in front of a crowd, prompting her to linger anxiously in the wings, another friend’s need creates an opportunity for her to jeté to the rescue. Utilizing alliteration and assonance in rhyming verse, Draper creates a dance-like lilt, while Glenn’s stylistically flat digital artwork uses simple shapes to create an amiable atmosphere for this tale of community amid skill-building. Dance terms conclude. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)