Resources for Kids

Recommended Reading

Below are books that we think PNB Kids might enjoy. Click on the title to find out more information or to purchase through Amazon.com.* You may also be able to find many of the books at your local library. Approximate age or grade ranges are given for the books, based on reviews, and are meant only as guides.

Books

• A Day in the Life of a Dancer, by Linda Hayward. London: Dorling Kindersley, 2001. 32 pages. Ages 4–9, grades preschool–4.
• Coloring Book of Great Dancers, Santa Barbara: Bellerophon Books, 1989. Ages 9–11.
• Alvin Ailey, by Andrea Davis Pinkney. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 1995. 32 pages. Ages 5–9.
• Ballerina, by Peter Sis (board book). HarperFestival, 2005. 24 pages. Ages 3 & up.
• Ballerina, My Story, by Darci Kistler. New York: Minstrel, 1993. 128 pages. Ages 8–12.
• Ballet, by Kate Castle. New York: Kingfisher, 1996. 64 pages. Grades 4–6.
• Ballet of the Elephants, by Leda Schubert. Roaring Book Press, 2006. 34 pages. Ages 4–8, grades 1–4.
• Ballet Shoes, by Noel Streatfeild. New York: Random House, 1993. 256 pages. Ages 9–12.
• Baseball Ballerina, by Kathryn Cristaldi. New York: Random House, 1992. 48 pages. Ages 4–8, grades 1–3.
• The Bear Who Went to the Ballet, by Jean Richardson. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1995. 30 pages. Ages 5–8.
• Creative Dance for all Ages, by Anne Green Gilbert. Reston: The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, 1992. 386 pages. Ages teen–adult.
• The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life, by Twyla Tharp. Simon & Schuster, 2005. 256 pages. Ages teen–adult.
• Dance Me a Story, Twelve Tales from the Classical Ballets, by Jane Rosenberg. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc., 1985. 127 pages. Ages 6–9, grades 3–6.
• Dancing in the Wings, by Debbie Allen. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2000. 40 pages. Ages 4–8.
• The Dancing Man, by Ruth Lercher Bornstein. New York: Clarion Books, 1998. 32 pages. Ages 4–8, grades 1–3.
• Edgar Degas, Paintings that Dance, by Kristin N. Cole. New York: Grosset and Dunlap, 2001. 32 pages. Ages 4–8, grades 1–3.
• I Have Another Language The Language Is Dance, by Eleanor Schick. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 1992. Ages 9–12.
• Katherine Dunham: Pioneer of Black Dance, by Barbara O'Connor. Carolrhoda Books, 2000. 104 pages. Grades 5–8.
• Kids Dance, The Students of Ballet Tech, by Jim Varriale. New York: Dutton Children's Books, 1999. 32 pages. Grades 3–6.
• Let's Dance, by George Ancona. HarperCollins Publishers , 1998. 40 pages. Ages 4–9.
• Marie in Fourth Position, by Amy Littlesugar. Putnam, 1999. 32 pages. Ages 4–8.
• My First Ballet Book, by Kate Castle. Kingfisher, 2006. 48 pages. Ages 4–8.
• Not Just Tutus, by Rachel Isadora. Putnam Juvenile, 2003. 40 pages. Ages 4–8, Grades K–4.
• Nutcracker, by E.T.A. Hoffman, Illustrated by Maurice Sendak. Gramercy, 1984. 120 pages.
• Of Swans, Sugarplums and Satin Slippers, Ballet Stories for Children, by Violette Verdy. New York: Scholastic Inc., 1996. 80 pages. Ages 4–11.
• Pacific Northwest Ballet Presents Nutcracker, Photography by Angela Sterling. Sasquatch Books, 2005. 96 pages. Ages 3 and up.
• Put Your Best Foot Forward: A Young Dancer's Guide to Life, by Suki Schorer and The School of American Ballet. Workman Publishing Company, 2005. 80 pages, grades 4–8.
• Sleepless Beauty, by Frances Minters. Puffin, 1999. 32 pages. Ages 3–8.
• Stories from the Classical Ballet, by Belinda Hollyer. Pan Macmillan, 1996. 128 pages.
• Swan Lake, by Lisbeth Zwerger. North South Books, 2002. 32 pages. Grades 2–6.
• The Tale of the Firebird, by Gennady Spirin. Philomel, 2002. 32 pages. Ages 4–9, grades 2–5.
• The Young Person's Guide to the Ballet: With Music from The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and The Sleeping Beauty (Book & CD), by Anita Ganeri. London: Harcourt Brace and Company, 1998. 64 pages. Ages 9–12, grades 3–6.

*PNB has partnered with Amazon.com in a special program that gives PNB 5–8% of the sales from Amazon.com purchases that originate on our website. Simply use the links above to Amazon.com's website and all the purchases you make during that online session will benefit PNB.