Synopsis
When Olivia and her family go to the ballet, Olivia decides that she wants to be a ballerina when she grows up. Whether or not she's center stage, Olivia is always a star!
Children's Literature
Olivia's family attended a ballet and now Olivia wants to be a ballerina. She has a great time picking out her ballet costume—red leotard, red ballet slippers and a red tutu. However any new student of ballet may be disappointed to discover that tutus are not part of the early practice. Anyway, Olivia dances with the Cat whose expression is anything but joy. Olivia is taking lessons and wants to have a partner for a pas de deux. She is lucky because her best friend Julian is also part of the class and together they practice lifts. Then they perform at show-and-tell day at school. Olivia is determined to be a star, but for that to come true, it will take years of practice. While Olivia's story makes for a cute book, it may be misleading to young readers due to the ease with which Olivia learns enough to finally perform her "big number." Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot