Lucy Dancer Receives Kirkus Review

A little girl who longs to fly unexpectedly finds her passion in a ballet class in this debut picture book by author/illustrator Zimet.

Adventurous Lucy…loves to run along the beach and pretend to fly, and she worries her mother by playing near rocks. She also loves the feel of floating in the water, and she even tries gymnastics because the flips remind her of flying. When her mother enrolls her in a ballet class, complete with pink tights and shoes, Lucy is nonplussed.

But practicing ballet surprises Lucy; she appreciates the wisdom of her Russian teacher, Miss Gabriela; the French terminology; and the skills of her diverse classmates. Lucy’s love for ballet extends to practicing at home, mending her own slippers, and performing in recitals. Her sister’s constant criticisms fall away as Lucy finally feels like she can truly fly.

Zimet’s simple yet lyrical text and full-color illustrations that mix line art and paint capture Lucy’s growing love for dance in an authentic voice. The image of Lucy’s initial disdain for ballet, including her rebellion against pink (“I wore black”), captures her emotions perfectly; her transformation into a skilled dancer, depicted through ballet poses, is also believable.

This book will appeal most to dancers, but any child who’s had a passion surprise them will also feel at home.

—Kirkus Review