Imaginative approach to storytelling injects childlike magic into everyday life

Ella’s Dance Debut brings a magical story of a young girl’s life as a dancer, but Ella is not that girl. It is her umbrella, “Ella.” This imaginative story surrounds Ella the umbrella's life, riding the bus, going to dance classes, and getting ready for Ashton's big recital. Ella loves music and motion as much as Ashton does. When Ella learns that umbrellas will be used by the dancers, she is so excited, but things don’t go exactly as planned. For those who have read other books in this series, I promise you won't be disappointed.

Book Review by Donna

Book Review: Ella's Dance Debut

This book’s imaginative approach to storytelling injects childlike magic into an everyday scenario by telling it from an umbrella’s point of view. The whimsical, colorful illustrations by Emilia Ruminska not only bring the story to life but shine with the love of dance. With Ella’s Dance Debut, Once Upon a Dance delivers another interactive, entertaining tale for young children and early readers as Ballerina Konora joins in the story with photos that encourage kids to act out movements in the story. I love this concept. 

This interaction with the story encourages imaginative play by an award-winning ballet teacher! I give this book five stars. While it is recommended for young children interested in dance as it features ballet terms and steps, I think this story will appeal to young children who love music, and those who love to pretend even if they are not involved in dance.

Other books by Once Upon a Dance that I recommend include:

Frankie’s Wish

Daryl’s Dancing Dolls

As BookHookup, I am a long-time book reviewer and received a free review copy of this book in collaboration with Blackberry Book Tours. I have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

 

About the authors

Once Upon a Dance offers movement, breath, joy, connection, and imagination through stories.

Their catalog of 25 interactive dance books highlights positive messages and role models throughout four main series:
 

Dance-It-Out! stories combine whimsical tales with movement and subtle life lessons (spans ages 4-9)
Dancing Shapes peeks at a professional ballerina’s journey, teaches ballet, and explores detail and form (spans ages 6-11) 
Ballet Inspiration and Choreography Concepts deep dives into technique, tips, and insight for aspiring dancers (ages 8-12)
Prop-Based Dance Stories for Classroom and Anytime Fun debuts in 2023 to encourage scarf and parachute play.

 

Fairy tale for kids 2-6 in search of self worth

 

The story of Princess Fluffy Plumpkin reads like a modern-day fairytale with a moral. It opens with an unhappy Princess Fluffy. She may be royalty, but she doesn’t feel like it. The source of her unhappiness is how she looks. Even as a princess, she compares herself to her sisters with their short colorful fur. Her fur is not short or colorful and she feels that even her parents treat her differently. She tries and tries to change how she looks but nothing works. As a last resort, she follows her brother’s advice. His plan works at first but doesn’t bring lasting change.

 

This fairy-tale brims with encouragement and uplifting moments for kids 2-6 years old who see flaws in their appearance. Princess Fluffy Easts Pink is engaging. Filled with interactive illustrations that depict Princess Fluffy’s journey of discovery. She realizes the advantages to being different and overcomes her feelings of inferiority. This delightful story delivers an important message on a child’s level. We are all unique. A person’s value should not be based on how they look. This story’s message will help kids love themselves and learn not to compare themselves with others in search of self-worth. I highly recommend this book for young kids and early readers. I’m happy to award it 5 stars.

 

As BookHookup, I am a long-time book reviewer and I received this book as a free review copy in collaboration with Blackberry Book Tours. I have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

 

About author Chris Roy

Chris Roy was raised on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He is a boxing trainer, and a tattoo artist.

Young Adult books:

• Sad Sally Salad
• Alex

Children’s books:

• Ronin Cleans His Room Like a Ninja

• When a Brave Bear Fights Cancer (by Carola Schmidt, edited by Chris Roy)

• Chubby’s Tale: the true story of a Teddy bear who beat cancer (by Carola Schmidt, edited by Chris Roy)

• Little Ricky’s Ambition (by Richard Lewis, Jr., edited by Chris Roy)

• Princess Fluffy Plumpkin Eats Pink