Presenting Tanya, the Ugly Duckling (Picture Books) - Hardcover

Kindergarten-Grade 3Another lovely story about the young ballet student that will appeal to children who feel left out or unable to accomplish as much as their peers. In Tanyas sixth picture-book appearance, she is selected to dance the title role in The Ugly Duckling ballet at her school recital. As the children rehearse, the other pupils improve, but Tanya, who feels as though she has two left feet and no wings at all, cant seem to get the movements right. Finally, at the dress rehearsal, the music, the costumes, and the drama transform her into the Ugly Duckling and Tanya is ready to perform. The expressive watercolor paintings, many of them wordless double-page spreads, capture all of the beauty of a ballet performance. As Miss Foley tells the story to the dancers, small paintings set above the text reflect the events she describes, showing a scrawny chick that blossoms into a graceful swan. Tanyas poses, motions, and emotions echo those of the duckling. In all of the paintings, Ichikawa makes effective use of line and shadow to create the illusion of movement and mood. Take a bow, Tanya!Susan Pine, New York Public Library
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