Book #13 Ballerina Dreams

A charming, truly beautiful story. The photographs and text bring out the girls' emotions as well as the reader's. Elementary school students would benefit by having this book shared with them. Highly recommended.

	Related Information	Comments
Title	Ballerina Dreams	A true story
Author	Lauren Thompson	http://www.laurenthompson.net/books
Photographer	James Estrin	New York Times photographer and Lens Blog editor  http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/author/james-estrin/
Publisher	Feiwel and Friends	http://us.macmillan.com/splash/publishers/feiwel-friends.html An imprint of Holtzbrinck Publishers
Year of Pub:	2007
ISBN:     (ISBN-13)	978-0-312-37029-9
Age range	3-10
Type of Disability	Cerebral Palsy
Fiction or Nonfiction	Nonfiction
Category:  A, B A) books that provide factual information about a disability B) books that provide information about a disability in a story format in which the character with a disability is integral to the plot C) books that provide stories that have a character with a disability who may or may not be integral to the storyline and who has been added to the story to achieve diversity and reflect reality D) books that include a main character with a disability but whose focus is not necessarily the disability
Annotation:  Ballerina Dreams is the true story of five little girls ranging in age from three to seven who have the dream of being ballerinas and dancing on stage. The girls’ situation is unique because they all have Cerebral Palsy (one has Erb’s Palsy), a condition which causes their muscles to work differently from the way other people’s muscles work. Most of the girls need support to stand and walk. Joann Ferrara, a physical therapist and the girls’ ballet teacher, helps them make their dream come true.  The girls’ helpers, who range in age from eleven to sixteen, also play a big role in fulfilling the girls’ ballerina dreams. The excitement mounts as the performance nears. Clear, simple text and sensitive photography capture the young ballerinas’ intense feelings as they reach their dream.
Link to publisher:	http://us.macmillan.com/splash/publishers/feiwel-friends.html http://us.macmillan.com/MacKids.aspx
Links to professional reviews:	https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/lauren-thompson/ballerina-dreams/ http://bookverdict.com/details.xqy?uri=Product-5300367.xml http://www.amazon.com/Ballerina-Dreams-Joann-Ferrara/dp/product-description/B0032Z6Z22/ref=dp_proddesc_0/192-3795556-5665250?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books (Click the link—Amazon--and scroll down to see editorial reviews.)
Awards:	If you know of any rewards this book has received, please leave me a messge.

                       

Standards for Quality Portrayal of Characters with a disability		Comments
1. Promotes empathy not pity	Yes	When we see the girls’ excitement and nervousness in their faces, we identify with them and want them to succeed.
2. Promotes acceptance, not ridicule	Yes
3. Emphasizes success rather than, or in addition to failure	Yes	Absolutely. These girls are successful at what they are trying to achieve—dancing and performing.
4. Promotes positive images of persons with disabilities or illness	Yes	The photographs and accompanying text allow us to see these girls in a totally positive light.
5. Assists children in gaining accurate understanding of the disability or illness	Yes	The narrative gives detail of how Cerebral Palsy manifests itself in terms of the limitations in movement of muscles.
6. Demonstrates respect for persons with disabilities or illness	Yes	The helpers, though very important, stay behind the dancers and allow the dancers to shine. Respect is conveyed just by virtue of the fact that the opportunity exists for these girls to fulfill their dream of being dancers.
7. Promotes attitude of “one of us” not “one of them.”	Yes
8. Uses people-first language	Yes
9. Describes the disability or person with disabilities or illness as realistic (not subhuman or superhuman)	Yes	The photographs can’t help but capture the realism in this book. It’s right there for the reader to see.
10. Depicts people with disabilities as more similar to than different from other people	Yes	These girls want to have the opportunity to perform just like their peers.
11. Shows peoples’ strengths and abilities along with their disabilities	Yes	The girls’ motivation and determination are apparent as they overcome their difficulties in movement to dance on stage.
12. Represents characters as strong, independent people who others can admire or learn from	Yes	The dancers’ hard work and dedication is emphasized.
13. Represents people with disabilities from different racial and cultural backgrounds, religions, age groups, and sexual orientations	Yes	The dancers are ethnically diverse and range in age from three to seven.
14. Shows people with disabilities in integrated settings and activities	No	Since all of the girls portrayed need assistance standing and walking, they are in a special dance class for children with motor disabilities.
15. Shows people with disabilities in valued occupations and diverse roles.	Yes
16. Shows people with disabilities in reciprocal relationships	Yes	The girls have special relationships with their young helpers (who range in age from eleven to sixteen). Their relationships with their families are also shown.
17. Main character develops and grows emotionally as a result of what happens in the story	To some extent because they have made their dreams come true.	The five girls have equal status in the book.