Tallulah's Solo

PreS-Gr 2—Tallulah is a wonderful dancer and she's certain that she will be chosen for the principal role in the upcoming ballet recital. However, she's worried that her scatter-brained younger brother, Beckett, who just began taking ballet lessons, might not be chosen even for a minor part. As Tallulah warns and encourages Beckett, she imagines the accolades that will come her way when she stars in the production, complete with thunderous applause and beautiful bouquets. Tallulah is dismayed when Beckett earns a leading role and she is relegated to the cast. Although the story line is immersed in the world of dance, Singer's picture book (Clarion, 2012) offers a lesson in handling the universal feelings of disappointment and sibling jealousy. She doesn't shy away from the messiness of emotions, but rather offers an honest perspective of Tallulah's tantrum and her need to be noticed. Alexandra Boiger's watercolor illustrations and her use of fainter washes to depict Tallulah's imagination are brilliant. Christina Moore's narration is clear and precise, and she accurately portrays Beckett's character in just four syllables, "Uh-huh, uh-huh." Page-turn signals are optional.—Terri Perper, Middletown Public Library, MD