When young Misty discovers her love of dance through the ballet Coppélia – a story about a toymaker who devises a villainous plan to bring a doll to life – she is so captivated by the story that she decides to audition for the lead role, even though it’s only just her first dance class! But as she learns from her fellow bunheads, she makes wonderful friends and together they put together a production they will remember forever.

In 2019, Charlotte Nebres became the first Black dancer to be cast as Marie in the New York City Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. This sweet autobiographical picture book tells the story of how her hard work led to starring as Marie as well as her holiday traditions.

This fantastic book delves into the lives of Black women in ballet and their dance journeys and how they’ve changed the landscape of American ballet from the early 20th century until today. This compilation includes stories of dozens of dancers, including Raven Wilkinson, Ebony Williams, Virginia Johnson, Nora Kimball-Mentzos, and many more.

This interactive board book with pull tabs is both beautifully illustrated and very sweet. Watch animals spin and fly and bustle from their dens in a riotous celebration of spring!

This wonderful children’s book is filled with tender illustrations and a lovely story about a boy who is waiting for his turn at Friday Assembly where they have a “Sharing Gifts” portion. I just loved this book, especially the ending.