Ballerina Dreams: A True Story

Ballerina Dreams is an absolutely beautiful book for both children and adults. It illustrates the human spirit to best insurmountable challenges through determination, hardwork, dedication and love. The pictures and text capture the wonderful spirit of these beautiful dancers as well as their tenacious teacher, Joann Ferrara. Read this book, keep it near and when you are having a bad day and think life is tough, pull it out and get inspired!

Featuring gorgeous photography by Pulitzer Prize-winning team member James Estrin, Ballerina Dreams: A True Story is a picturebook following five little girls who wanted to become ballerinas and dance on stage. Each girl had cerebral palsy or other physical difficulties, which affect their control over their leg muscles; some use leg braces, wheelchairs, or walkers to get around. Yet with practice, hard work, and the aid of a committed teacher, they were able to realize their dream. A truly inspirational picturebook especially recommended for young girls of all backgrounds.

What a stunning book in so many ways. It's touching and moving and beautifully put together. These little girls should be inspiration for everyone. When you're faced with a seemingly impossible task, you should take note of these little ones with physical disabilities and what they can do and nothing will seem impossible again. It's a book for people of all ages, and it really focuses on your abilities rather than inabilities and these girls look like they are having the time of their young lives. Joann Ferrara started teaching them ballet four years ago with only five students. She was a physical therapist and wanted to make childrens dreams of becoming ballerinas come true. She's done a terrific job and with the help of handlers for these girls, they perform to standing ovations. With the holidays coming up, this book will make an excellent gift. It's heartwarming and beautiful and I highly highly recommend it to everyone.

This is the story of 5 special girls who dream of being ballerinas. They all have some sort of physical ability that they have to try and work around. This is the story of their amazing class and how they work so hard to put on a great show! This gave me a chance to talk with my daughter who takes dance classes about how blessed that she is with good health.

This astonishing book tells the story, through pictures and a straight-forward narrative, of five little girls who work hard to fulfill their dreams. The determination of these beautiful children, their teenage helpers, and their low-key, high-voltage teacher is an important -- and most assuredly delightful -- lesson for everyone.