Ready Set Dance

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A child’s first dance class can be both nerve-wracking and exciting, especially if they do not have a sibling or friend to serve as a model of someone who has taken class before. In this book, friends Bella Beak and Quinn Hopps head to their first ballet class together and learn exactly what they need to do to succeed. From knowing the length of class to donning the appropriate clothing and hairstyles, Bella, Quinn, and their companions move, sway, and discover a delightful new world of expression through the beauty of dance.

This is a beautifully designed book that introduces young children to their first dance class in an accessible and charming way. The characters are all anthropomorphic animals, which helps readers to visualize the diversity one might find in a dance class. Within the narrative, all the important elements of a dance class for young children are included. Nearly any question a young dancer might have for their first ballet class—and some they may have never considered—are answered within the pages of this book. Likewise, questions parents might ask are answered at the end of the book, providing readers of all ages with a comprehensive guide for ballet classes before they ever set foot in the studio.

While this book does not follow the same structure as the other stories in the Once Upon a Dance series, it is nonetheless successful at educating and entertaining young readers while encouraging movement simply through the use of clever illustrative and textual techniques. Bright, cheerful colors bring the characters to life, and young readers will appreciate the many secret additions to the illustrations that are not directly a part of the narrative. At the end of the book, readers find extension activities they can complete that can help to make dance class even more fun. The extensive expertise of the authors comes through in this book, and it is an excellent tool for any dance teacher to share with fledgling students and their families.

—Mary Lanni, Librarian Reviewer

Teacher Terrel and Ballerina Konora, a mother-daughter duo known as Once Upon a Dance, portray the essentials of a first dance class in this picture book.

Bella, a chicken, and her friend Quinn, a frog, are finally old enough to take their first ballet class. When they see the older students dance, they feel intimidated until they meet their teacher, Kittina, a cat, who reminds them that nobody’s that good on their first day. Kittina teaches the kids some basic positions before they practice graceful movement with scarves and try leaping in the air like a frog: “Quinn, it’s not fair, stop showing off: you ARE a frog!” Maris’ whimsical pastel-and-pencil illustrations emphasize the characters and include tiny text that adds texture; as the class practices dance positions on a white background, each is subtly labeled—arabesque, releve—like whimsical, handwritten notes. The prose is cheerful and funny, as when the class’s length is compared to “the time it takes to eat ten plates of spaghetti.” The story also offers specifics that will help future dance students know what to expect, such as the “crawl test” to make sure the clothes they wear to class won’t get in the way. Overall, the story captures a sense of excitement and wonder.

A humorous, warm, and encouraging introduction to dance. 

—Kirkus Reviews

Packed full of fun and highly accessible, this is wonderful book for helping children to feel comfortable when they first start dance lessons. Highly recommended!

Over the years, I have enjoyed a number of books by this author but, I must say, this is the best yet. It’s the story of a chicken and a frog attending a first dance class. Kittina (a cat!) is the instructor for the day and she helps them in so many ways, not just helping them to dance, but also showing them how to be ‘prepared’ to dance.

There were so many elements to this story I enjoyed. Firstly, there’s a lot of humour in it which I felt was often lacking in the other ‘Once Upon a Dance’ books. I particularly liked how Kittina helped her new students to understand how long a dance lesson lasts – the time it takes to eat 10 plates of spaghetti, or put away that huge pile of clothes in your room, or to blow a hundred and forty-three ridiculously big bubbles in your bath – excellent fun! Also, as always with Once Upon a Dance books, the illustrations are top notch; possibly even a notch higher! But most of all, I liked the message – that even the teacher is still learning, that you don’t need an expensive dance costume when you first start, and that it’s okay to be pretty bad at the beginning; don’t worry, you will get better at it.

I’m not much of a dancer myself, but I am a mum. So I spend A LOT of time taking my children to lessons – hockey, tennis, football – it’s a long list, so I know kids can be very nervous when they start a new activity. So I’m confident a book of this nature would be FAB to give to a child who’s about start dance lessons. Not only is it educational, but it’s also funny too, accessibly written, superbly designed, and the message is spot on. There’s even a Tips for Grown Ups page at the back! It seems the author’s thought of everything!

—‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review