Book Details:
Book Title: Dragons Don’t Dance Ballet by Jennifer Carson
Category: Children’s Fiction (Ages 3-7), 36 pages
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Publisher: Vinal Publishing
Release date: December 8, 2020
Format available for review: print (USA), pdf
Tour dates: Jan 18 to Feb 5, 2021
Content Rating: G for everyone.
Book Review:
Dragons Don’t Dance Ballet is a delightful little book with cute and colorful illustrations. The main character is a gentle dragon named Esmerelda, who loves to dance. Although she isn’t the same size or shape as most other ballerinas, her friend Harold encourages her to audition for the ballet.
Esmerelda fearlessly decides to audition even though she towers above all of the other ballerinas. When she begins to dance, she knocks the dancers over by accident, but she doesn’t give up. She continues to perform.
Dragons Don’t Dance Ballet focuses on the importance of following your dreams. It lets kids know they should aim high and ignore the naysayers who discount their abilities, but there is another vital lesson in this story.
It centers around Harold and Esmerelda’s relationship. It speaks to the importance of finding friends who can act as your cheerleaders. Those friends who can encourage you to take chances, reach for the stars, and catch you if you fall.
Book Description:
Esmeralda Dragon works the spotlight at the Metropolitan Ballet, but what she really wants to do is dance. Encouraged by her friend Harold to audition, Esmeralda takes a leap of faith only to discover that she doesn’t quite fit in with the other ballerinas. But Esmerelda isn’t ready to give up–and neither is Harold! Dragons Don’t Dance Ballet is a whimsical picture book that challenges body image expectations and encourages little ones to go for their dreams.
Meet the Author:
Jennifer Carson lives in Michigan with her husband, four sons and many furry friends. She grew up on a steady diet of Muppet movies and Renaissance faires and would occasionally be caught reading under the blankets with a flashlight. Besides telling tales, Jennifer likes to create fantasy creatures and characters and publishes her own sewing patterns. Her artwork and patterns can be seen online at thedragoncharmer.com.
Jennifer’s work has been featured in national magazines including: Cloth, Paper, Scissors, Faerie Magazine, Soft Dolls and Animals, Teddy Bear and Friends, and Dolls United.Jennifer’s work has been featured in national magazines including: Cloth, Paper, Scissors, Faerie Magazine, Soft Dolls and Animals, Teddy Bear and Friends, and Dolls United.
Thank you for hosting Esmerelda!