Clara's Dancing Feet

Clara loves to dance so when Emily from next door tells her she has lessons, Clara wants to go to dancing school too. Mum is duly persuaded even though it's nearly the end of term. Clara is thrilled with her new outfit, most of all with her pink shoes like 'sugared almonds', but when she goes to classes shyness overwhelms her and she just stands and watches. It is only at the end of term show that Clara finds the sight of her dancing classmates irresistible and she joins in, in her street clothes.

Would-be dancers of four to seven should find this book irresistible whether they are listeners or able to read the longish text for themselves. The sensitive felling is wholly convincing and the crayon illustrations are beautifully observed with the skilful use of the page engendering pace and depth.