Tallulah's Toe Shoes

by Marilyn Singer, Alexandra Boiger (Illustrator)

Overview

Tallulah is back in ballet class and now she wants to go en pointe—to dance up on the tips of her toes in pink satin toe shoes, like a real ballerina. But going en pointe is not good for growing feet, and her ballet teacher says her feet aren't ready yet. Oh, yes, they are, Tallulah thinks. And so am I. Not only is she ready, she's determined. And nothing stops Tallulah when her mind is made up!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780547482231
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	03/19/2013
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD500L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Marilyn Singer is the author of more than one hundred books for children, including the Tallulah books. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, and Washington, Connecticut. Visit her online at marilynsinger.net.

Alexandra Boiger grew up in Munich, Germany. She has illustrated many picture and chapter books, including five popular books about ballerina Tallulah and She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton. She lives in Northern California. Visit her online at alexandraboiger.com and on Instagram @Alexandra_Boiger.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Singer once again wisely presents a quandary faced by many little ballerinas and any other child who is told to postpone immediate gratification  . . . Little girls in tutus and little girls who dream big will find that Tallulah is a kindred spirit . . . A charming entry in the ongoing saga of Tallulah."
— Kirkus Review

"As with the previous two books, Singer and Boiger deliver the story's message with a lightness and grace befitting the subject matter, and Tallulah remains a highly empathetic heroine."
—Publishers Weekly

"Children who love ballet will love this one and want to read the other titles in this series."
—School Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

In Tallulah’s first outing, she was desperate for a tutu; now, like all young ballerinas, she dreams of getting her first pair of toe shoes and dancing en pointe. Trying to speed the process along, she snags a discarded pair that belonged to an older dancer, but she learns that while her determination is unwavering, her body isn’t quite ready for the challenge. As with the previous two books, Singer and Boiger deliver the story’s message with a lightness and grace befitting the subject matter, and Tallulah remains a highly empathetic heroine. Ages 4–8. Illustrator’s agent: Marcia Wernick, Wernick & Pratt. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

"Singer once again wisely presents a quandary faced by many little ballerinas and any other child who is told to postpone immediate gratification  . . . Little girls in tutus and little girls who dream big will find that Tallulah is a kindred spirit . . . A charming entry in the ongoing saga of Tallulah."
—Kirkus Reviews

"As with the previous two books, Singer and Boiger deliver the story's message with a lightness and grace befitting the subject matter, and Tallulah remains a highly empathetic heroine."
—Publishers Weekly

"Children who love ballet will love this one and want to read the other titles in this series."
—School Library Journal —

From the Publisher

PreS-Gr 2—Tallulah wants to be a real ballerina in pink-satin toe shoes, like the Lilac Fairy in her ballet school's performance of Sleeping Beauty. Both her mother and her teacher tell her gently that she is too young to dance en pointe, but the child is determined. She takes a discarded pair of toe shoes home and puts them on. Standing on her toes in front of her mirror, she realizes that she looks more like a crouching rat than a graceful dancer. She stays en pointe with her little brother's help, and her toes become painfully hot and red. That week her sadness is palpable as she walks through the park. When she puts the shoes back into the wastebasket, an older girl who danced the Lilac Fairy sees and understands. Like Tallulah, she thought she would never learn to dance on her toes, but she has. So will Tallulah in time with practice. Tallulah's Tutu (2011) and Tallulah's Solo (2012, both Clarion) also show the youngster's dreamy expectations becoming more realistic. The watercolor and gouache illustrations use a palette of soft rose, pinks, blues, and grays. Children who love ballet will love this one and want to read the other titles in this series.—Mary Jean Smith, formerly at Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN

School Library Journal

Toe shoes are de rigueur for ballerinas, and Tallulah wants them--now! Tallulah is one determined ballet student. She wanted a tutu and got it. She wanted a starring role in a student performance and almost got it, appearing instead in the corps de ballet. Now it's toe shoes. Her teacher explains that she can wear them when her feet stop growing. This is not a sufficient deterrent, however. Tallulah sneakily retrieves a pair discarded by an older student and takes them home. Sore feet, sore toes, inability to balance and her little brother's exasperation after trying to help finally make her realize her teacher's wisdom. Singer once again wisely presents a quandary faced by many little ballerinas and any other child who is told to postpone immediate gratification. Boiger's delicate watercolors featuring bright reds and blues winningly capture Tallulah's loving family, her dramatic if unsuccessful struggle to stand on point and her surety of future success. A double-page-spread depiction of a ballet step, échappé en pointe or demi-pointe, performed respectively by an older girl and by Tallulah, makes an excellent reference point. Little girls in tutus and little girls who dream big will find that Tallulah is a kindred spirit. A glittery cover adds to the appeal. A charming entry in the ongoing saga of Tallulah. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews