BooksforTopics Reading for Pleasure Recommendations
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Dogs Don’t Do Ballet by Anna Kemp and Sara Ogilvie – the much-loved story of Biff the pug, who just wants to be a prima ballerina – and to celebrate, the publishers at Simon & Schuster have published a sparkly new 10th Anniversary edition (available here). As well as its shimmering cover, the new edition also features unseen material showing ‘What Biff Did Next’.
Dogs Don’t Do Ballet is a popular picture book in schools, 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, and now is his chance to follow his dreams despite the way others might see him. Dogs Don’t Do Ballet is an important story celebrating the freedom to express individuality and pursue dreams despite the prejudice others may impose. Let’s all be a little kinder, the story gently implores, and allow ourselves and others to excel at whatever we love to do the most.
Since its original publication in 2010, the book has been shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Booktrust Early Years Award as well as being performed as a puppet show by the Little Angel Theatre.
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You can order Dogs Don’t Do Ballet: 10th Anniversary Edition online or from your local bookshop or library
Many thanks to the publisher for sending us a review copy of this book.
Where next?
> Visit our Reading for Pleasure Hub
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> View our printable year group booklists.
> See our Books of the Month.
