October 23, 2019 is World Ballet Day. It is an annual celebration of ballet that began around 2014. Events are held globally, but the essence of the day centers around a live streaming of various ballet companies. Viewers will see rehearsals, classes, and other experiences of the organizations and dancers. For anyone interested in the art form, its beauty, rigor, and strength will be on display for all to see.
The books on this list include a range of fiction picture books for reading aloud, to realistic stories for young adult readers. The list also includes nonfiction biographies about trailblazer Janet Collins, as well as Misty Copeland, a contemporary history-maker and voice for inclusion and diversity in ballet. As always, our goal is to promote awareness of stories by Black authors that serve as mirror and window books for children and young adults. Happy Reading!
Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins
Michelle Meadows | Ebony Glenn | PB | Henry Holt and Co. BYR | 2019 | Amazon | IndieBound
This Is It
Daria Peoples-Riley | PB | Greenwillow Books | 2018 | Amazon | IndieBound
Firebird
Misty Copeland | Christopher Myers | PB | G.P. Putnam’s Sons BYR | 2014 | Amazon | IndieBound
Beautiful Ballerina
Marilyn Nelson | Susan Kuklin | PB | Scholastic | 2009 | Amazon | IndieBound
Dancing in the Wings
Debbie Allen | Kadir Nelson | PB | Dial Books | 2000 | Amazon | IndieBound
A Girl Named Misty: The True Story of Misty Copeland
Kelly Starling Lyons | Melissa Manwill | ChBk | Scholastic | 2018 | Amazon | IndieBound
Ballerina Dreams: From Orphan to Dancer
Michaela DePrince | Elaine Deprince | Frank Morrison | ChBk | Random House BYR | 2014 | Amazon | IndieBound
Sugar Plum Ballerinas: Plum Fantastic (Bk 1 of 6)
Whoopi Goldberg | Deborah Underwood | Maryn Roos | ChBk | Jump At The Sun | 2008 | Amazon | IndieBound
Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina Young Readers Edition
Misty Copeland | MG | Aladdin | 2016 | Amazon | IndieBound
Shiny Broken Pieces: A Tiny Pretty Things Novel (Bk 2 of 2)
Sona Charaipotra | Dhonielle Clayton | YA | HarperTeen | 2016 | Amazon | IndieBound
Pointe
Brandy Colbert | YA | G.P. Putnam’s Sons BYR | 2014 | Amazon | IndieBound
Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina
Michaela DePrince | Elaine Deprince | YA | Knopf BYR | 2014 | Amazon | IndieBound
Dancer
Lorri Hewett | YA | Dutton | 1999 | Amazon
Another Way to Dance
Martha Southgate | YA | Delacorte BYR | 1996 | Amazon
Blue Tights
Rita Williams-Garcia | YA | Puffin | 1996 | Amazon
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