- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Puffin; New Impression edition (31 Mar 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140300414
- ISBN-13: 978-0140300413
- Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 10.9 x 0.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
107,449 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #11 in Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators > S > Streatfeild, Noel
Ballet Shoes
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
A masterpiece (Telegraph )
'Ballet Shoes is one of my all-time favourite children's books - and you don't have to be a ballet fan to enjoy it.' - Dame Jacqueline Wilson
'Ballet Shoes is one of my all-time favourite children's books - and you don't have to be a ballet fan to enjoy it.' - Dame Jacqueline Wilson
About the Author
Noel Streatfeild once said that Ballet Shoes was ‘really a fairy story with its feet half-way on the ground’ – a magical description for a magical book.
Noel was born in Sussex in 1895 and was one of three sisters. Although she was considered the plain one she ended up leading the most glamorous and exciting life! After working in munitions factories and canteens for the armed forces when WWI broke out, Noel followed her dream of being on stage and went to RADA where she became a professional actress.
She began writing children’s books in 1931 and Ballet Shoes was published in 1936. She quickly became one of the most popular authors of her day. When she visited Puffin exhibitions, there were queues right out of the building and all the way down The Mall. She was one of the first winners of the Carnegie Medal and was awarded an OBE in 1983. Noel Streatfeild lived in London. She died in 1986.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
THE Fossil sisters lived in the Cromwell Road. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
THE Fossil sisters lived in the Cromwell Road. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am 70 years old and read this book when I was six the memory of the enjoyment I had from reading this book has always stayed with me. I have bought it for my own daughters and my nieces when they were young now I want to give the same pleasure to my grand-daughters.
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It's not surprising this is such a classic story. I first read it when I was around nine, and was captivated by all three protagonists. Pauline, Petrova and Posy Fossil are all adopted as babies by Great Uncle Matthew (known as Gum) and sent to live at his house in London, along with his massive collection of fossils. They are looked after by the thoughtful Sylvia and the practical Nana.
The story really begins when the money Gum has sent for the girls' upbringing runs out. Sylvia and Nana don't know how to contact him; they have no idea where he is; there is even some suspicion he may be dead. Then one of the people who boards with them comes up with an idea for the three girls to attend a school of Dance and Acting so that they can earn some money through stage productions. In different ways, their training at the school is the making of all three girls.
Streatfield is careful to make the girls' characters as distinctive as their looks: tall, blonde and beautiful Pauline is interested in English and Drama; Petrova, who is thin and dark, is of a practical frame of mind, good at Maths and Mechanics; while Posy, to whom the shoes of the title belong, has a talent for showing off. The book is truthful about the way sisters interact, their squabbles, the way two band together against one (often it is Pauline and Petrova against Posy, as they try to stop her showing off), how fame can affect young children. There is often a great deal of scrimping and saving, but the girls never let this depress them. As the book draws to a close, Pauline's and Posy's futures become clear, but Petrova's remains uncertain. You wonder what will happen to her; you wonder if Gum will ever appear again.
A great book for all little girls, not just those interested in ballet.
The story really begins when the money Gum has sent for the girls' upbringing runs out. Sylvia and Nana don't know how to contact him; they have no idea where he is; there is even some suspicion he may be dead. Then one of the people who boards with them comes up with an idea for the three girls to attend a school of Dance and Acting so that they can earn some money through stage productions. In different ways, their training at the school is the making of all three girls.
Streatfield is careful to make the girls' characters as distinctive as their looks: tall, blonde and beautiful Pauline is interested in English and Drama; Petrova, who is thin and dark, is of a practical frame of mind, good at Maths and Mechanics; while Posy, to whom the shoes of the title belong, has a talent for showing off. The book is truthful about the way sisters interact, their squabbles, the way two band together against one (often it is Pauline and Petrova against Posy, as they try to stop her showing off), how fame can affect young children. There is often a great deal of scrimping and saving, but the girls never let this depress them. As the book draws to a close, Pauline's and Posy's futures become clear, but Petrova's remains uncertain. You wonder what will happen to her; you wonder if Gum will ever appear again.
A great book for all little girls, not just those interested in ballet.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I loved this book so much. I felt like I was being sucked into the story and I was there. I could feel the nervousness of them before they went on stage. I felt like I was there, dancing. I would give this book 11 out of 10!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Amazing children's book
I am Galo's daughter, and I am eleven years old. I first read this book a few years ago, when I was about nine years old, and loved it. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Galo
First read at 60+!
I came to this book for the first time recently, having always known of it, but never read it. What a wonderful story, my bedtime novel for the last few nights. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mrs. M. Connolly
Ballet Shoes
I originally read this story when I was around eight and it's one of those childhood books that I have been meaning to get hold of again and add to my library and I am so glad that... Read more
Published 8 months ago by S Wilson
Great to go with the dvd.
We got this for a little girl 7 years old to go with the DVD. She loves it to bits!
Published 16 months ago by J. Follis
Fabulous
I have always loved this story; I'm now 39 and still re-read it every so often. It captures the imagination and is so beautifully written. Read more
Published 16 months ago by BM
Well worth 4 quid
Very interstring indeed Pauline fair-haired actress with a vain nature. Petrova a dark Russian with no taste for the stage. Posy a little auburn kid with gift of dancing. Read more
Published 17 months ago
A wonderful book a very bad edition!
I love this book and have done since I was a child however the kindle version had so many mis spellings and missed words it made it very difficult to read and therefore more... Read more
Published 19 months ago by emipie2003
Ideal present
This old favourite proved to be an excellent Christmas present for two different grand-daughters. Highly recommended.
Published on 31 Dec 2009 by Mr
Childhood memories
I first read this book as a young child and fell in love with the characters straight away. I re-read the book many many times and on each reading the magic was still there. Read more
Published on 3 July 2009 by Mrs. V. Bradley
Loved it.
It really is a classic that I think will survive a long time. It's not challanging and very sweet and on the whole very enjoyable. Read more
Published on 1 April 2008 by A. Morris
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