A book about two girls in operate worlds who both love the same things. This a great book for any grade from pre-school to 4th and it encourages kids to do what they love and go after their dreams. ( )

Note: I received an F&G at an ALA conference. ( )

This is an amazing book because it gives to different perspectives to the same passion. One from a child's perspective and the other from an adult the has made her passion her career. It shows determination and to trust what you love.

A young ballet student named Emma and an accomplished professional ballerina named Julia both go about their day in this charming picture-book celebration of the beauty of dance. Their parallel experiences - waking up, having breakfast, going to practice - eventually converge as Emma and her family attend the evening ballet in which Julia is performing. In a heartwarming moment at the close of the book, Emma gets to meet her Julia, and tell her that she wants to be just like her when she grows up. Her hero tells her in turn that she (Julia) was once just like Emma. In the end, "Emma and Julia love ballet."

An engaging book, one which highlights the hard work and daily discipline that dancers must posses, Emma and Julia Love Ballet also offers a celebration of the power of a role model to inspire the young. Apparently Julia is based on the African-American dancer Judith Jamison, whose performance served as Barbara McClintock's introduction to the ballet, giving this story an added interest for young dancer lovers. It's good to see ballet stories which feature a more diverse range of characters, as the genre sometimes tends to feel a little lacking in that area to me (see Dancing In the Wings for another excellent ballet picture-book featuring a black ballet dancer). Recommended to anyone looking fort fun ballet stories for young children, as well as to fans of Barbara McClintock's artwork. ( )

Emma loves ballet and Julia too. They have a passion for ballet bout they develop their own dancing path. Julia as a professional dancer and Emma as a fan. This books can show how to work hard for a passion that you have. ( )