This is the perfect book for young ballerinas, who are destined to love the illustrations and the ingenious pop-up features (which make this book suitable for very careful tiny dancers). A little girl is on her way to her dance recital. Her sister, a jazz dancer, accompanies her (we can lift the flaps on their bags to reveal their costumes). They get in line for hair and makeup, then they change into their costumes . . .as we see when they spring forth from behind the dressing room doors, resplendent as a fairy ballerina and a jazzy cowgirl. Their friend Tommy, also springs forth, ready for his tap solo. As the dancers practice, and then actually perform, each step is accomplished with many flaps, pop-ups, and spinning wheels -- all the better to delight the young readers/listeners. The final spread is glorious as the ballerina springs forth from the pages, arising to take a final bow.

MY DANCE RECITAL is perfectly adorable. It is highly recommended by my young ballerina friend (age 4), who gave it the ultimate compliment: "Let's read that one again!"