Ballerino Nate by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Ballerino Nate by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, illustrated by R.W. Alley

Rating: 3.5 stars

Little (dog) Nate sees a ballet with his class at the end of his kindergarten year, and decides that he wants to learn how to dance ballet, too.  His mother finds him a class, but it doesn't start until Fall.  All Summer long Nate dances happily everywhere and anywhere; all Summer long Nate's big brother Ben teases him that only girls dance ballet.  His parents shush Ben every time, simply saying: "That's not true, Ben," to whatever falsehood falls from his mouth that moment.



"Ballerinas all have to wear pink shoes and a dress."

 Finally little Nate goes to his first class.  He loves it!  But he realizes that Ben is right--he's the only boy in the class.  So his mother takes him to a "real" ballet--not just a little school performance by students, but one danced by professionals.  He looks on in awe...the illustration of this is my favorite.  From the stage you see the dancers, but more important you see the whole audience, colored in dim grey, except for Nate and his mother, who are colored in brightly.  Nate is about to explode out of his seat in excitement!  Nate is thrilled to see that nearly half of the dancers are men, and that their roles are integral to the performance.  He even talks to one backstage, who explains that "ballerina" is for the top female dancers, while "ballerino" is the term for the best male dancers.

This is a lovely book that challenges the only-girls-do-this and only-boys-do-that stereotype.  It's a great one to read a few times just to put into your kids' heads, maybe to let them think a little outside of the box, or maybe to provide information that will prevent teasing/bullying later on.  I really like this book, but of course wish that the language was a little softer.  I wish that Ben didn't say "yuck" or "stupid" and that Nate didn't say he "hated" dresses and shoes.  I'm being harsh, I think, because I can't imagine boys saying much else at 5 or 6.  I'm still living in la-la land because my boy isn't saying much at this point!

A Know-Nothing Halloween by Michele Sobel Spirn

A Know-Nothing Halloween by Michele Sobel Spirn, illustrated by R.W. Alley

Rating: 2 stars

I walked into the house today from my weekly morning out without kids to hear our sitter reading this book to Lorelei.  I told Miss Chloe, "I just rescued you from finishing that book!"  She gave me a thankful look and told me it was giving her a headache--I knew she wasn't exaggerating much.  Here's a little example of what is in the loooooooong (three little chapters!) book:

"We could trick-or-treat."
"How do we do that?" asked Morris.
"We go to people's houses and do tricks for them," said Norris.
"Then they give us treats."
"I don't know any tricks," said Boris.
"Maybe Floris knows some tricks," said Norris.
"Sit, Floris."
"I don't think Floris knows that trick," said Morris.
"Roll over, Floris," said Norris.
"Floris does not know that trick either," said Morris.
"Stand on four legs, Floris," said Norris.
"What a great trick," said Morris.
"Floris is such a clever dog," said Boris.

Good grief.  I hope that your children will not find these in the library.  If the do, consider hiding it immediately after you come home, in a place even the sitter can't find.