Are you ready to be transported to a magical world of tutus, pointe shoes, and graceful movements? Ballet is not just a beautiful art form, but it can also inspire children's imaginations and instill important values like discipline and perseverance. That's why we're excited to bring you this review of three children's books about ballet that are sure to delight young readers and inspire them to dance.

Whether your child dreams of becoming a prima ballerina or simply enjoys watching the Nutcracker at Christmastime, these ballet books really are the perfect introduction to the world of ballet. From the thrill of performing on stage to the hard work and dedication required to master a dance, each story brings to life the joys and challenges of this beloved art form.

Not only are these books fun and engaging, but they also showcase a diverse range of young dancers from all walks of life. It's so important for children to see themselves reflected in the characters they read about, and these stories do just that, showing that anyone can dance if they put their mind to it. So whether you have a little girl who loves twirling around in her tutu or a boy who's interested in trying out ballet for the first time, these Faithful Finds are must-reads for any child.

How We Choose the Best Children's Books About Ballet for You!

Ballet captures the imaginations of children.  We know how important it is to be able to pick up a book and help your child step into the dreamy world of dance and have fun doing it!

We started out dancing as young children, and our experiences determined which books we would have wanted to read as children.  And we wanted to be sure that the books that we selected as ballet stories for your child would be books you and your child will bond while reading.  How do you know if your child is really interested in ballet?  Just watch your child's face while reading these children's books about ballet, and you'll know!

Our team of experts combined their own life experience as both ballet lovers and dancers with a personal review of each book and the reading of countless reviews to find the best children's books about ballet for your child. We've done all the hard work so that you can easily find and purchase the perfect book for learning more about this beautiful art form.

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We hope your search finds your uncompromisingly favorite children’s books about ballet below! Each product was independently selected by our team. FaithfulFind may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to buy something (that's how we fund our research). Some people don’t like telling you that, but we do. Besides, it doesn’t cost you anything extra! Never compromise your buying!

Best Book for a Real Ballerina's Story

Bunheads by Misty Copeland

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Author Misty Copeland came up with a beautiful self-portrait of what it is like to be a young girl starting out in ballet.  She even named the young ballerina Misty, making the story autobiographical.  

What sets this Faithful Find apart from other children’s books about ballet is that children are drawn into both Misty’s start in dance class and the story of an actual ballet performance, Coppélia.  Coppélia is one of the most famous ballets and a the delightful classic tale of a mad inventor and the life-like doll he creates.  Bunheads brings Coppélia alive for children.  

And the youngest reader will cheer as instructors recognize Misty’s gift for the dance and her humble, beautiful spirit. Copeland sprinkles authentic ballet vocabulary throughout the story making it natural and easy to understand.  Misty forms beautiful friendships in her ballet training showing aspiring dancers that hard work can be fun.  Your children will absolutely love the illustrations in Bunheads. Plus, we like the title!

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Misty Copeland is inspiring for would-be ballerinas of every age. She did not begin studying ballet until she was 13, which is considered quite late for a serious dancer. Copeland owes her entrance into the ballet world to a drill team coach in middle school who recognized her talent and suggested ballet classes. Copeland’s home life was difficult, and she faced a lot of personal obstacles. That did not stop her from dancing en pointe within three months of taking her first ballet class, turning professional within 1 year, winning awards by age 15, and earning scholarships for prestigious ballet schools. Her most coveted scholarship was to the America Ballet Theatre where she ultimately became the only African-Amercian member of their corps de ballet and then a principal dancer. Copeland is also inspiring because she never had a typical ballet dancer body type. She was always heavier than her counterparts. Sheer skill and disciplined perseverance made her a success even when she faced serious injuries from dancing.

Best Book to Learn the Life of a Dancer

Ballerina Gets Ready by Allegra Kent

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Ballerina Gets Ready takes your child inside what it is really like every day to be a ballet dancer.  We see that Iris is disciplined with her routine of ballet classes, costume fittings, readying her ballet shoes, and rehearsals.  When she’s not dancing or training she loves spending time with her cat.  

Iris is kind to those around her and builds positive relationships with the other dancers.  She also has to be flexible in working with others and be a reliable, constructive part of the ballet troupe.  Allegra Kent introduces real ballet words like barre and adagio seamlessly.  

We love the illustration work for this ballerina book.  It looks like a Monet painting.  Our favorite illustrations throughout the story (other than the scenes with the cat!) are ones where Iris is in a beautiful, long tutu. Little girls will fall in love with the ballet world and all things ballet as they dance in Iris' ballet shoes. Ballerina Gets Ready is a genuinely Faithful Find among children’s books about ballet because it is a fun way to educate children about the things important to success as a ballerina, including nutrition.

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Allegra Kent’s was born Iris Margo Cohen. She searched for personal happiness for decades before finding it, but she found great success and personal achievement when she began studying ballet at age 11. She received a scholarship at age 14 to the School of American Ballet. That training propelled her one year later to joining the New York City Ballet. These were incredible accomplishments. The New York City Ballet was her home for 30 years, and she created and danced in nearly all principal roles in George Balanchine’s celebrated oeuvre. What’s also interesting about Kent is that she had three children during her performing years. She would take breaks to have her children and then put her ballet shoes right back on. Ultimately she retired from dancing and became a ballet teacher to pass on her skills to the next generation.

Best Book for Boys

Boys Dance by John Robert Allman

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Most children’s books about ballet are aimed at girls. If you’re looking for a book about a boy’s ballet journey, Boys Dance is a perfect Faithful Find.  The story is written in rhyme, so even the youngest boys can follow along.  The illustrations are clear and bright so they engage your child without overtaking the story like other ballet picture books.  

In this American Ballet Theatre book, John Robert Allman helps boys see themselves in the ballet classroom, including what they wear and some introductory ballet vocabulary.  Boys are shown demonstrating ballet positions so your child can do the positions while reading to make the experience interactive.

What’s unique about Boys Dance, though, is that real life male dancers are mentioned by name in the story and their biographical profiles are at the end of the book.  This really brings the dream of being a principal dancer alive for young boys.  Among the real life professional male dancers featured was soloist Calvin Royal III, one of the American Ballet Theatre dancers who approved the final version of Boys Dance. Royal praised the book for helping to “normalize the cool factor of young guys in ballet. There’s a real sense of brotherhood.”  Royal believes the book’s message is that “regardless of gender, race or class, ballet is for everyone.”  

Boys Dance also shows the story behind ballet so boys see that there is action and drama suited to manliness.  Boys connect the skills learned in ballet to other parts of life, including sports.  In the end, though, this Faithful Find teaches boys that it is not only OK to dance but totally masculine and empowering.

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John Robert Allman was once a boy in a ballet class; in fact, growing up in Houston, Texas, sometimes he was the ONLY boy in class. He makes his living today in marketing for television and theater, but he found a calling to write books about dance and theater. Boys Dance is just one of his books. It is the book, though, that he wished that he’d had as a kid. Allman admired dancers across the board but especially dancers like Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. Allman takes his writing about dance and theater seriously and spends a lot of time making sure he gets the information right as well as partnering with the illustrators who can bring ballet and dance alive.

Children's Books About Ballet FAQs

What is pre ballet?

Pre-ballet is an introduction to dance using creative movement and very basic ballet steps and terminology. Through movement games and activities children will learn and practice spatial awareness, rhythm, balance, and coordination.

Is ballet good for little girls?

Ballet for preschoolers is a great way for little ones to move in a fun environment! A ballet class for 3 to 5 year old dancers can benefit their strength, flexibility, range of motion, coordination, and balance.

Do toddlers wear socks with ballet shoes?

Yes, it is acceptable to wear socks with ballet shoes. Thin socks are typically worn by children with their ballet shoes. The transition to tights by both males and females generally occurs during the tween years, although many young children also start with tights in the first place.

What age do boys start ballet?

This typically happens around age 8 (although it could be earlier or later depending on the child). Once a child reaches this threshold of maturity, they can begin ballet training in earnest.

Why do boys wear tights in ballet?

A dance belt is a kind of specialized undergarment commonly worn by male ballet dancers to support their genitals. Most are similar in design to thong underwear.

Final Thoughts

As we come to the end of our review of these children's books about ballet, we can't help but think about the magic of childhood and how important it is to nurture a child's dreams.

Reading together is not only a great way to bond with your child, but it also helps to foster a love of learning and imagination. So take some time today to sit down with your child and dive into the enchanting world of ballet through the pages of these beautiful books. Who knows? Maybe reading these stories will inspire your child to fulfill your own childhood dream of dancing ballet, or perhaps it will plant the seed for a new dream altogether. The possibilities are endless when you open up one of these books and let your child's imagination soar!

Enjoy making memories reading these Faithful Finds to your child.

God bless!

Lynne