Common Sense Media Review
By Terreece Clarke
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Soaring, rhythmic story for dancers with big dreams.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
What do you do when you dream a dream almost too big for yourself? What can you do when you want to soar like the Firebird you see on TV, when you are still so very small? Those are the questions a new ballerina finds herself asking as she longs to be like Misty Copeland, soloist for the American Ballet Theatre. Just when the young dancer is ready to give up, her idol steps in to share her journey as they dance through self-discovery together.
Is It Any Good?
Beautiful, charming, and rhythmic, Misty Copeland's FIREBIRD soars as a story of self-discovery, determination, shared passion, and mentorship. Copeland's prose and dialogue with a young dancer are emotionally moving and adeptly deal with the fears, misgivings, and concerns many dancers struggle with when they first begin. Copeland acts as mentor and motivator, instilling confidence in the young dancer.
The books is wonderfully illustrated by Christopher Myers, who combines color and texture to create stunning design and movement. Firebird will have young dancers leaping for the stars and understanding both the hard work and possibilities involved.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the importance of diversity. Why is it important for children to see people who look like them in media?
Who do you look up to as a role model, and how does that person help you believe in yourself?
What do you think of the way dance is portrayed in the media? What are some stereotypes about ballerinas? Hip-hop dancers? Dancers in general?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Christopher Myers
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Arts
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Putnam Juvenile
- Publication date : September 4, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 5 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Awards : ALA Best and Notable Books , Coretta Scott King Medal and Honors
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate