Dragons Don’t Dance Ballet by Jennifer Carson {Children’s Book Review}

The moment I opened the packaging for this book, it was taken by my 7 year old. She was kind enough to give it back to me so I could read and review it!

Disclosure: I received this book to review through iRead Book Tours, I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

Esmeralda Dragon works the spotlight at the Metropolitan Ballet, but what she really wants to do is dance. Encouraged by her friend Harold to audition, Esmeralda takes a leap of faith only to discover that she doesn’t quite fit in with the other ballerinas. But Esmerelda isn’t ready to give up–and neither is Harold! Dragons Don’t Dance Ballet is a whimsical picture book that challenges body image expectations and encourages little ones to go for their dreams.

Buy the Book: Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Dragon Charmer
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The first thing I noticed were the amazing illustrations! The pictures, the colors – bright and beautiful, and super adorable!

Immediately upon opening the package, my 7 year old took the book from me so she could read it and put it on her book shelf. I was lucky she returned it to me so I could read it and review it because I haven’t seen it since I received it in the mail!

Needless to say, the 7 year old is a fan!

There are a few words that are dancer terms that we had difficulty pronouncing, but aside from that, the book was an easy read for her.

The story was relatively short and kept the amount of sentences on the page from being overwhelming, making it a great book for young readers.

The story itself… well… it gave me goosebumps.

Regardless of not fitting in, not looking like the others, and struggling; Esmerelda Dragon never gave up and kept pushing forward.

Even scared and afraid, Harold showed up – not once, but twice – to support her and give her the confidence she needed to continue pushing through the obstacles that presented themselves.

As a mom to kids who don’t always fit in as well as a special needs kiddo, it touched my heart. I am my kids’ biggest cheerleader and am always there to support them and help push them through. I cheer them on to keep trying so that they can succeed and that is what Harold did for Esmerelda and it touched my heart.

This beautifully illustrated book had a wonderful story – one that I recommend every child get and have read to them before starting school. I can definitely see this story helping kids with their confidence as they start the new and scary world of school with peers who don’t always look or act like them.

About the Author
Jennifer Carson lives in Michigan with her husband, four sons and many furry friends. She grew up on a steady diet of Muppet movies and Renaissance faires and would occasionally be caught reading under the blankets with a flashlight. Besides telling tales, Jennifer likes to create fantasy creatures and characters and publishes her own sewing patterns. Her artwork and patterns can be seen online at thedragoncharmer.com.

Jennifer’s work has been featured in national magazines including: Cloth, Paper, Scissors, Faerie Magazine, Soft Dolls and Animals, Teddy Bear and Friends, and Dolls United.Jennifer’s work has been featured in national magazines including: Cloth, Paper, Scissors, Faerie Magazine, Soft Dolls and Animals, Teddy Bear and Friends, and Dolls United.

Follow the Author
Website | Facebook | Goodreads

 

 

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