Ballet Besties: Indu’s Time to Shine – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: molecule cakes, glimmer, ballet, bonanza.
Children’s book title: Indu’s Time to Shine.
Children’s author: Yasmine Naghdi with Chitra Soundar.
Children’s illustrator: Paula Franco.
Genre: Short chapter book, ballet.
Published by: Piccadilly Press.
ISBN: 9781800785854.
Recommended for children aged: 7+ year-olds.
First published: Paperback November 2024.
This children’s book is ideal for: young ballet enthusiasts.
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Our review:
Molecule cakes, glimmer and glamour, in a ballet bonanza. Indu struggles with her confidence when her ballet school puts on a performance. For Indu, dance is all about fun – she’s not interested in performing or being a star. She also feels out of place and unable to join in activities with her friends because her family has little money. This leads her to make a poor decision. Her journey reflects themes of taking responsibility, thinking creatively to solve problems, and a community ultimately coming together.
Beneath the storyline, Ballet Besties has depth: the focus isn’t on the lead role but on tackling poverty to make dance inclusive and promoting friendship over competitiveness. Even though Indu is offered an easy way to resolve her mistake, she turns it down, choosing instead to take responsibility and raise the money herself. Indu is far from perfect but grows stronger and more inspiring as the story unfolds.
Indu, like many children (and adults), fears performing in front of others. Her confidence builds with the support of Shimmer & Shine’s kind teacher, Miss Diamond, and her friends. Although Indu takes on a smaller role in the performance, she shines in her own way by thinking of others. There’s a strong sense of community, diversity, and acceptance throughout the story, with a positive emphasis on balancing schoolwork and outside interests.
Ballet Besties is a fun story for children aged seven and up who are interested in dance or ballet. Ballet terms, descriptions of moves, and guidance on posture are woven into the book and could give readers a head start, improve their performance, or at least help them understand and learn the terminology.
Black-and-white illustrations are scattered throughout the tale, helping readers visualise and connect with the characters. As a delightful bonus, the book includes basic ballet positions, a glossary of ballet terms, a star move, and the recipe for Indu’s molecule cupcakes.
Ballet Besties is an inspirational story about anxiety, friendship, compassion, and acceptance. It builds on themes of responsibility, hard work, belonging, and gratitude.
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