An Invitation to the Ballet

Guillain’s sedate text pairs with Shoesmith’s desaturated artwork to present a detailed tour of a ballet theater—here, a well-outfitted British affair that includes a box for the royal family “and other important people,” and in which the seating section called the “orchestra” in the U.S. is identified as the “stalls.” Guiding readers from the auditorium through the many departments involved in creating a ballet (costumes, sets, lights, rehearsal studios, dressing rooms), Guillain offers descriptions of the work done in each locale, outlines a dancer’s typical day, and provides summaries of famous ballets. The illustrations are as detailed as the text, presenting dancers, theater staff, and attendees in a wide range of skin tones. Subdued language and art misses the dynamism dance can evoke, but will appeal to readers who enjoy learning what goes on behind the scenes. Ages 6–8. (Nov.)