Vampirina Ballerina
By Regan McMahon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Cute, comic how-to for aspiring vampire ballerinas.
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What you will—and won't—find in this book.
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What's the Story?
Fang-in-cheek narration offers dos and don'ts for any vampires who might want to become ballet dancers, as it follows the actions of cute little VAMPIRINA BALLERINA. She must attend night classes, because vampires sleep in the daytime; avoid smiling, because her fangs might scare the other dancers; and resist turning into a bat (for the same reason). She works toward her big debut performance, makes freinds with her classmates, and is cheered by her loving, supportive, ghoulish family.
Is It Any Good?
Vampirina Ballerina works on two levels -- as a cute story about learning ballet and as a fish-out-of water tale, in which an unusual girl learns how to fit into a mainstream setting. Many of the gags depend on knowing some vampire basics -- why Vampirina's reflection doesn't show in the dance studio mirror, why she has to take night classes, what's in the family's red bowls at dinnertime, why her mother is lying on a lounge chair working on her moon tan. LeUen Pham's funny, expressive, cartoon-like illustrations make Vampirina irresistible.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what it would be like to be a vampire in class with regular kids. How would you spot a vampire at your school?
Why do you think vampire stories are so popular?
Is it fun to read a story about a nice vampire, or do you think they should all be scary?
Book Details
- Author: Anne Marie Pace
- Illustrator: LeUyen Pham
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Arts and Dance, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
- Publication date: August 7, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 2 - 8
- Number of pages: 40
- Available on: Hardback
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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