Lola is taking ballet classes and is excited to dance at the Swan Lake recital until she learns that she will be a background chicken instead of a graceful swan.
In a time and place of economic hardship and strict teachers, Lena, who wants to dance more than anything else, must devise a creative solution for the recital costume she needs. Includes note about the author's experiences growing up in Romania.
Alexandrea does not want to be a beautiful ballerina and she definitely does not want to move. Her ballet crazed mother moves the family to Harlem and enrolls Al in the Nutcracker School of Ballet. Al does not think she is a good dancer and she has stage fright! She needs lots of help from her friends to find her inner Sugar Plum Fairy.
"A little girl is getting ready for her first dance recital. She rehearses the night before, shimmers and shines when she puts on her costume, and overcomes a small "oops" moment when everyone goes left and she goes right!"--Back cover.
When four young girls meet in dance class, it takes time for them to find a way--and a reason--to pull together as one, but Emily helps them realize that, just like a bag of jellybeans, they can be different and still go well together.
