In Valerie Coulman’s I Am a Ballerina, Molly attends the ballet for her birthday, and is inspired to become a ballerina. After Molly’s unintentionally comical attempts at dancing ballet at home, her parents decide to enrol her in lessons.

This simple story, infused with gentle humour, should resonate with 3- to 7-year-old budding ballerinas. Sandra Lamb’s soft chalk-pastel illustrations set this book apart from the many other ballet-themed picture books on the market. Coulman and Lamb capture Molly’s pride and delight in dancing her first recital and being a “real” ballerina. They succeed in conveying these feelings to readers. mRb