ALA Booklist (Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2020)

Seven boys attend a ballet class together, beginning at the barre with stretches and pliés, continuing with exercises in the studio's open area, and ending with leaps across the floor. Growing stronger each day, this racially diverse class watches older dancers perform more advanced steps, while the students dream of performing on stage someday. Brief rhymed couplets set a rhythmic pace throughout the book. The stylized digital art creates a sense of movement, and sunny colors support the book's upbeat tone. Though the boys are studying ballet, one striking double-page spread suggests their interests in other forms of dance as well. Illustrating the rhyme "Beyond ballet, add your pizzazz / to modern, hip-hop, tap, or jazz," each boy mimics a famous dancer-choreographer (Savion Glover, Paul Taylor, Bob Fosse, Gregory Hines, Gene Kelly) whose large-scale picture hangs on the wall behind him. From the American Ballet Theatre series, this picture book concludes with engaging personal statements by men currently dancing with ABT, often reflecting on childhood experiences. Highly recommended for young boys who love to dance.

Horn Book (Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2020)

Presented by the American Ballet Theatre. Seven boys (four with brown skin, three with light skin) participate in a dance class as a rhyming text comments on the dancers' athleticism and skill: "Training hard, you'll break a sweat / while you rehearse your pirouette." The class practices various positions and movements; posters in the studio feature male dance stars for inspiration. The dynamic illustrations emphasize the dancers' joy in movement and show that dance transcends gender. Eight male dancers from the ABT are profiled on the final two spreads.

Kirkus Reviews

Boys at the American Ballet Theatre school practice, observe, and show off their ballet skills.A multiracial group of young male students attends class, where they stretch at the barre, demonstrate the five basic positions, and land jumps with "flair" during floor routines. In one double-page spread, they are showcased artfully imitating current ABT dancers seen on posters behind them. Another colorful scene shows men in various costumes from classic ballets executing steps onstage. Still another visually powerful spread shows the boys duplicating moves from famous dancers of other genres, including Savion Glover, Paul Taylor, Bob Fosse, Gregory Hines, and Gene Kelly. Finally, and making a strong statement, the boys are depicted reading and playing the violin, basketball, and tennis while using ballet techniques. Related in rhyming couplets, this is a happy and spirited view of dance in the studio, onstage, and in everyday life. In an afterword, current male dancers briefly describe why they dance. Each is accompanied by two photographs, one from childhood and one in performance. Children of all genders who are drawn to dance will appreciate the positive reinforcement. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 27.5% of actual size.)Boys and ballet-a happy and upbeat combo. (Picture book. 5-8)