School Library Journal Starred Review (Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

K-Gr 3 The inspirational life of ballerina Alicia Alonso is shared with young readers in this lovingly illustrated beginning biography. Readers are introduced to Alicia in Cuba in 1929, when she was a young girl chasing her dream of becoming a ballerina. Dance schools were extremely rare in Cuba, and soon Alicia had learned all she could and had to travel to New York to continue to pursue her dream. Alicia practiced for hours every day, but just when she was achieving her goal, she contracted an illness that threatened to take her eyesight. After a series of operations, it seemed Alicia's dream was further and further away. But through strength and incredible perseverance, Alicia not only became a prima ballerina, but also a prima ballerina assoluta, and traveled the world sharing an incredible gift that grew stronger even as she struggled with her sight. Short paragraphs and vibrant illustrations bring to life Alicia's dream and make this a perfect book to share with young readers, whether as an individual read or reading together. The illustrations excellently depict Alicia's dedication as well as the difficulties with her eyesight and will inspire readers to chase their dreams amid challenges and struggles. VERDICT Highly recommended for biography collections and nonfiction picture book collections for children. Selenia Paz, Harris County P.L., Houston

ALA Booklist (Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

The She Made History series (6 new titles) celebrates the lives of women around the world and the notable contributions they have made. Alicia Alonzo Dances On introduces the Cuban prima ballerina who established the Ballet Nacionale de Cuba, despite the daunting challenges that came her way. Each title is engaging and features appealing illustrations, while providing ample context and additional resources (glossaries, bibliographies, time lines, etc.). Each book takes a positive, upbeat tone and encourages readers to learn more about these people. Furthermore, the publisher has taken care to match the books' racially and ethnically diverse subjects to female authors and illustrators from similar cultures. This attractive series shines spotlights on inspiring, deserving role models.

Horn Book (Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

Dancer Alicia Alonso (1920-2019) grew up in Cuba, where she attended the island's sole, poorly funded ballet school. In 1937 she moved to New York to study at the American Ballet Theatre and was well on her way to becoming a prima ballerina when she began to lose her eyesight. In a well-paced narrative, Vina emphasizes Alonso's resilience and determination -- as she contends with a new country and language and later as she recovers from eye surgeries, reenters the dance world, learns to dance with impaired vision, and eventually returns to Cuba to teach. Felix's cartoon-style illustrations focus on movement and emotion. An author's note and bibliography are appended.

Kirkus Reviews

Many readers are familiar with Misty Copeland, but how many know about Alicia Alonso?Viña begins this appealing biography in 1929 in Havana, Cuba. Excited to learn ballet, Alonso trains daily in "the only pair [of pointe shoes] available in the whole country." She is a girl with a dream to practice an art that does yet exist fully in her homeland. In 1937 she leaves for New York City, in spite of her father's disapproval, to train, with limited English, at the American Ballet Theatre. There she faces unimpressed teachers but nonetheless receives praise for her technique. When faltering vision causes her to pause training to undergo multiple surgeries to save her eyesight, she eventually ends up on bed rest for a year after a final operation. Alonso relies on her imagination and memory to keep dancing-a remarkable example of her determination. Viña chronicles Alonso's recovery and eventual stardom as a principal ballerina in Giselle, Swan Lake, and Don Quixote in spite of living with low-vision disabilities, concluding with Alonso's return to Cuba in 1958, which marks the founding of Ballet Nacional de Cuba. With Spanish words infused so that they flow naturally throughout, Viña adds an authentic cultural layer to an inspiring artist's career. Félix's illustrations, while straightforward and simple, add colorful richness that brings Viña's engaging storytelling to life.A solid introduction to a Cuban ballet legend that will inspire readers to learn more. (author's note, resources) (Picture book/biography. 5-8)