Movie Shoes

"Movie Shoes" combines the charm of "Ballet Shoes" (and the reappearance of the Fossil sisters) with the freshness of an American setting. The Winter family, mother and father, their nanny Peaseblossom, and the children, Jane, Rachel, and Tim, spend a winter in California shortly after World War II. The sunshine will be good for their father's health. How can Rachel afford dancing lessons? Aunt Cora does not see their importance. How will Tim, a promising pianist, find a piano to practice on? Rachel, a pupil at Madame Fidolia's, is "adopted" by Posy Fossil, now eighteen years old and dancing for Manoff in California. Lovers of "Ballet Shoes" will enjoy seeing the Fossils again. Bad-tempered Jane, the "middle child," is invited to play Mary in "The Secret Garden" while they are in California. The story of how these talented and indomitable children take care of themselves, and the adaptation of this British family to the United States, makes this the most American of Streatfeild's books. How splendid it would be if Dell Yearling, her American publishers, brought it back into print in the U.S.!

Do you remember when the Meg Ryan character walked into Tom Hanks' FOX BOOKS store and the customer asked about the "Shoes" books, and a monologue about the wonders of Noel Streatfeild's "Shoes" books ensued, touching on Dancing Shoes, Ballet Shoes, and Skating Shoes, which is absolutely wonderful? That scene made me break down crying, because I had never heard anyone other than myself talk about these terrific books, and the fact that it is tragic that they are mostly out of print and hard to find. This book is a wonderful story of about life for three British children in the United States, working hard for a goal, and accomplishing it, or at least getting on the road to achieving a reasonable, yet magical, goal. If you want a great book for your favorite elementary schooler - boy OR girl, buy this one - then buy the other "Shoes" books for your favorite girl (and get a copy of Tennis Shoes for your favorite boy too!)

Movie_Shoes is a wonderful book for someone who loves movies, books, and The_Secret_Garden. It weaves a magical tale around Jane Winter, and you start to believe you are her, putting up with bratty little Maurice Tuesday (Colin), longing to watch David Doe work his magic (Dickon), seeing your brother Tim play the piano almost professionally at age 8, and looking on as your older sister meets two of the most famous ballet personalities in the world. An intercultural adventure for everyone! Caution: Beware of nasty aunts.