Ballerina Dreams
Authors: Michaela & Elaine Deprince
Illustrator: Ella Okstad
Original language: English
Published: April 2017
Publisher: Faber & Faber
ISBN13: 780571329731
Price: € 8.79 (Paperback)
Age: 7 years and older
Ballerina Dreamsis a lovely little book with the true life story of Michaela Deprince, told by herself and her (adoptive) mother. Michaela was born in Sierra Leone, a country at war, where she lost both her parents. In the orphanage Michaela soon got a little friend. When a couple from the United States came to the orphanage, they adopted both little girls, so they moved to America.
This is how Michaela's story starts (in very short) but as you read on you learn that she will have a wonderful life, that all her dreams come true. She received her dance training in the United States, moved to the Netherlands because she became a Prima Ballerina with the Dutch National Opera & Ballet in Amsterdam, ambassador for War Child and much, much more. Take a look at her great website, you can read it all there. And (really great fun) you can see her dancing in real life, in Amsterdam!
The cute illustrations in the book were created by the Norwegian Illustrator Ella Okstad. She brings the story of the two little girls to life with her adorable drawings. A very sprecial to read to young children or to give as a present.
For young adults, there is also a special YA issue of Michaela Deprince's life story. In the Dutch translation the book is called: Ze noemden me Duivelskind, in English: Hope In A Ballet Shoe. Highly recommended!
3 brilliantly shining stars for Ballerina Dreams!