Gr 1-3 This series excels at giving advancing readers challenges while building on the vocabulary learned earlier, and this title about a young orphan from war-torn Sierra Leone who follows her dream of becoming a ballerina is no exception. Michaela dePrince describes how she was sent to an orphanage after her parents died. Later, she and the other girls at her orphanage left the country for the United States, where an American couple adopted both Michaela and her best friend, Mia. Michaela's adoptive mother (Elaine dePrince, the coauthor) arranged for the girl to take ballet lessons, and she was an eager student. After years of training, her dream came true, and she became a professional ballerina. This exciting, accessible tale includes large text, with a pronunciation guide for the ballet terms, such as barre or port de bras , and simple drawings to depict dance positions. A good balance between text and the painterly illustrations will draw readers in. Actual photos of Michaela and her family were included as well. An engaging story of triumph, ideal for novice readers. Janene Corbin, Rosebank Elementary School, Nashville, TN

In this entry in the Step into Reading series, DePrince tells an inspirational story of her plight as an orphan in Sierra Leone and her dream of becoming a ballerina. A photograph of a ballerina inspires her when she is very young, and after being adopted by American parents, she is given ballet lessons. In the photographs and art, enthusiasm for ballet is apparent as the young dancer learns the positions and the accompanying French words (with pronunciations). By the book's conclusion, Michaela has achieved her dream. She won the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis scholarship at the American Ballet Theater in New York, starred in the documentary First Position, and is now a dancer at the Dance Theatre of Harlem and with the Dutch National Ballet. An endnote also introduces the coauthor and Michaela's adoptive mother, Elaine, who raised sons before adopting daughters from West Africa.