Ballet Kids is a lovely story written by Holly Sterling. As a parent of a child who attends ballet lessons, each page really resonated, and I know my daughter will also love this story.

The book introduces us to Thomas as the main character as well as a range of his friends who go to the same ballet school. Technical dance vocabulary is introduced in a child-friendly way and images on both the front and back pages reinforce the ballet terminology with images. The story builds up to a performance of The Nutcracker by all the children with each page describing the dance moves and outfits needed for their final show.

It is a very inclusive story that breaks down gender stereotypes and the perfect story for any young child who loves to dance.

This is a popular picture book with a message about the right to follow individual choices even when it means opting to be different from others. Biff is not like ordinary dogs. Instead of chasing sticks and scratching his fleas, Biff likes moonlight, music and walking on tiptoes. Biff does not see himself as a dog but as a ballerina. Can he follow his dreams despite the way others see him? Dogs Don’t Do Ballet is an important story about allowing ourselves and others the freedom to express individual liberty.

Star for a Day is a heartwarming dance-themed story for independent readers in Key Stage 2. Following two contrasting sisters auditioning for a TV talent show, it explores themes of jealousy and relationships while imparting an important lesson about staying true to oneself. The book is accessible, with a straightforward narrative that effortlessly engages young readers. Through well-developed characters, children will empathise with the sisters’ journey and the challenges they face.

This is a great introduction to short chapter books, particularly for children with an interest in magic, gymnastics and dance.

This fast-paced, illustrated chapter book is the first book in the Autumn Moonbeam series. It is a magical tale about a young witch who dreams of being part of the Sparkledale Dance Academy. She learns that Magical dance is not just about the moves, but about creating magical images, sounds and feelings to embellish each step. Autumn sees the world in a unique way and readers will be charmed by her from the start of the series.

The narrative is full of humour and is set in an adorably witchy world. The illustrations are enchanting and full of detail, helping young readers to enjoy the story and world further. A recommended must-read for any young child who enjoys fun, witches, magic, dance and humour.

For keen readers, another Autumn book called ‘Spooky Sleepover’ is also available.

The first in a new inclusive series by Principal Ballerina Yasmine Naghdi and well-known children’s author Chitra Soundar.

Yara wants to become a professional ballerina. Her parents had signed her up for ballet classes at Shimmer and Shine and they even put on a show – but Yara learns that it couldn’t come at the cost of her school lessons.

Yara gets distracted with ballet practising for her lead in Sleeping Beauty. When she forgets to complete her homework or concentrate on her classwork, Miss Diamond and her mum explain that schoolwork is equally important to pursue a career in ballet. Yara’s passion for ballet at first distracts her from school work especially because she gets the lead part in a performance that had so much at stake. But with the help of her friends and timely advice from her teachers and her parents, Yara realises that it’s important to balance both without giving up one or the other.

We also see this through the experiences of her friends, Indu and Dante, too. Indu is not learning ballet because she wants to be a professional dancer. Her hobby might always remain a hobby, but that’s ok too. Dante on the other hand has two passions – football and ballet – while also focussing on his studies and he does make it seem easy to balance them.

This illustrated chapter book will appeal to Lower KS2 children who love dance.

One of the greatest books of all time. I reread the story of Pauline, Petrova and Posy Fossil taking to the stage regularly. I love escaping into the warm, gentle world of these characters, the way you get to really enjoy backstage life, and how it celebrates young women with talent and ambition. (Ages 8-12)

A superb read. This is a gripping and thought-provoking story exploring the experience of an eleven-year-old girl fleeing conflict in Syria. Aya’s tale is told with such compassion that takes the reader on a real empathy journey. No Ballet Shoes in Syria is an important story that is beautifully told with warmth and compassion.

A beautiful tale of love, determination and hope. Follow the adventures of Lizzie, her grandfather, Wai Gong, and her friends as they are determined to make it to the Tower Ballroom for afternoon tea – a gift from Lizzie’s late grandmother.

The characters represent a diverse community in Scotland all of whom are overcoming their own struggles and it soon becomes evident that Wai Gong needs more support than twelve-year-old Lizzie can provide.

This is an enjoyable and heart-warming read for Years 5 and 6. At times humourous and at others, deeply emotional, this dance-themed tale will warm your heart as you delve into the relationships between the different characters and discover how powerful kindness and a good support network can be.

Leo wants to talk but he can’t. He has all the words but fear means they won’t come out. When Risha moves in next door, he’s worried that when his new friend finds out his secret he’ll be left alone again. But when he learns her secret, he hopes to help her and make her a permanent friend,

This book sensitively explains selective mutism for young (and older) readers. Told beautifully over a hot summer, we are let into the world of a young KS2 boy who is often treated as though he’s not there. He really wants to participate in school activities and make friends, but anxiety stops him. As the story progresses, we’re taken on a journey as Leo takes steps to achieve his future dream of dancing in The Lion King. However, if his selective mutism stops him from dancing in the summer dance show how can he ever dance on the West End Stage?

As readers, children can develop empathy for others who may find it difficult to speak in front of them, and the end of the book gives tips to support classmates. The story explains some of the frustrations that classmates of those with selective mutism might feel, and how to be supportive. It also gives a voice to those who might feel that, particularly in the classroom, they have none.

As a teacher this was an excellent read, giving an insight into how pupils with selective mutism might navigate the world around them and giving tips on how you might support a child in your class to give them the same opportunities as others. It would be great for use in PSHE lessons exploring empathy.

Welcome to the Arts: Dance is a beautifully presented large format, dip-in, dip-out non-fiction book about the world of dance.

The book takes the reader on a guided tour of dance; from choreography, set design and costumes to different ‘stages’ of dance, including theatre, folk, social and movie dances.

Each section gives a well-researched description of the element of dance, describing its history or technical elements – such as the five positions in ballet. Each page includes beautiful ‘Now Showing’ images, often taken from famous photographs of dancers performing such as Darcey Bussell in The Nutcracker or The Nicholas Brothers (famous tap dancers) in Sun Valley Serenade.

While the most well-known dance styles are covered – ballet, ballroom and Latin, it is the lesser-known dances that most capture the imagination. Morris dancing, Khon (a traditional Thai dance), Adumu (the Maasai jumping dance) all feature, as well as a range of modern, popular dances such as disco and hip-hop.

The reader can learn about famous dancers around the world from the past and present, from Rudolf Nureyev (ballet) to Martha Graham (contemporary), from Antonio Gades (flamenco) to Fred Astaire (popular dance), learning how they became famous, what they were known for and their impact on the world of dance.

The book is a loving tribute to the world of dance, curated by Sir Alistair Spalding and Jason Rush through the Sadler’s Wells Theatre. It would be a welcome addition to any KS2 library and I think there is many a dance-loving child who would pour over the pages time and time again.

The Very Young Person’s guide to Ballet Music is an informative book created by Classic FM. The book, written by Tim Lihoreau and Phillip Noyce, introduces a story that explains what ballet is at the same time as describing different music and stories that ballet accompanies.

Throughout the book, key vocabulary is explained and additional fact boxes provide extra detail about each piece of music. Each page explains the story and classic music featured, these include The Nutcracker, The Firebird and Swan Lake.

All the pages have a range of details all beautifully illustrated by Sally Agar that complement the story. The most special feature of this book is that on each page is a button you can press so you can hear the music that is being described. This is a unique aspect that makes it stand out from other books about dance.

There are also additional pages at the back that detail ballet positions and give information about composters, legendary choreographers and performers, plus a mouse (named Matilda) hidden within the pages for children to find for fun.

This book is informative, engaging and fun and would be perfect for anyone learning about classical music or ballet as a dance form.