Tanya and Emily in a Dance for Two

"Tanya and Emily in a Dance for Two" is a wonderful book that introduces children to the ballet, but also to the joys of making a new friend. Tanya is an unpolished, wiggly dancer, while Emily is a graceful, agile ballerina who seems to perform moves effortlessly. The one thing they share in common: both practice alone during ballet class instead of with the other girls. One day after practice, they walk the same way past the zoo. Immediately, Tanya imitates the "dance" of an ostrich and it is not long before they begin dancing the penguin, the giraffe, the leopard and other animals. They start practicing together, with Emily helping Tanya with her moves. Their teacher notices how close they have become and puts them together for a "pas de deux" in the winter recital. Patrica Lee Gauch's text is charming and Satomi Ichikawa simply yet beautifully captures the mood of the story as well as the different ballet steps and "dances". A highly recommended book for young girls.