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Angelina Ballerina
Angelina Ice Skates
Angelina is planning a New Year's Eve ice dance for everyone in Mouseland. All of her friends are taking part--even little cousin Henry. But two big boys from school keep interrupting their rehearsals. When a giant snowball fight breaks out, Angelina is sure the dance will be ruined. Will she find a way to make the show a success?
32 pages, Hardcover
First published November 23, 1993
1 person is currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Katharine Holabird
290 books81 followersKatharine Holabird is an American writer, best known as the author of the Angelina Ballerina series.
As a child, Holabird was an avid reader who loved fairy tales and stories about heroic animals, and she frequently saw ballets like Cinderella and Swan Lake with her grandmother. The young, imaginative Holabird loved animals, playing in her tree house, and dancing with her sisters. In 1969, she received a B.A. in literature from Bennington College in Vermont and then worked at Bennington College as a literary editor for a year after her graduation. Holabird then found herself in Italy as a freelance journalist where she met her husband, Michael Haggiag. The two married in 1974 and moved to London where she continued to write and worked at a nursery school.
In 1983, her first children’s book, Angelina Ballerina, was published. Holabird’s son, Adam, was her inspiration for the character Henry, and Angelina’s character was inspired by her daughters’ love for dressing up and dancing. Holabird wrote the first draft of Angelina Ballerina at the kitchen table with her daughters dancing around her. In fact, the Angelina books were originally about a girl, but then Craig drew a mouse, and Holabird loved it. “The impulsive character of Angelina came alive,” says Holabird, “and seemed to pirouette off the page with enthusiasm and energy, while her plump and ebullient body expressed drama and attitude in every twitch of her tail.” Angelina is a very emotional character; she is sensitive and often bursts into tears right before offering an apology. She struggles with her conscience but always ends up doing the right thing—which is very familiar to many young children. The universal childhood themes in Angelina include friendship, jealousy, loyalty, & dedication. Holabird’s goal was to realistically portray the difficulties of growing up. According to Holabird, it is a ballerina book for “all the passionate little dancers and performers in the world,” including her own two daughters, which is why she “decided to explore the impulsive, highly emotional character of a small but determined ballerina.”
The first American edition of Angelina Ballerina was published in 1984. A year later, Holabird received the Kentucky Bluegrass Award for Angelina Ballerina. In 1986 and 1987, she received the ALA Notable Book Awards. Angelina’s Christmas was selected as Child Study Association’s Children’s Book of the Year in 1987. The following year, Holabird and Craig published Alexander and the Dragon, their first Alexander book; it is aimed at preschool children who want to be consoled about bedtime monsters. In 1990, Holabird wrote the Alexander sequel, Alexander and the Magic Boat, which portrays a strong mother/son relationship while the two go on a voyage to imaginary worlds. Also in 1990, Holabird received the British Book Design and Production award.
In 1999, HIT Entertainment in London (known for Thomas the Tank Engine, Bob the Builder, and Barney) secured the rights for Angelina Ballerina and commissioned Grand Slamm Children's Films to make an animated TV pilot. HIT also developed a lot of Angelina merchandise. Angelina made her worldwide television debut in 2001 on CITV in the United Kingdom. In 2002, the Angelina series premiered on PBS Kids TV in the United States. Angelina Ballerina’s Invitation to the Ballet received the prestigious Oppenheim Platinum Award in the U.S. in 2004. That same year, Angelina was named the official spokesperson of National Dance Week in the United States. In 2005, Angelina made her debut on PBS Kids Sprout, a twenty-four-hour digital television channel for preschoolers in the U.S.
As a child, Holabird was an avid reader who loved fairy tales and stories about heroic animals, and she frequently saw ballets like Cinderella and Swan Lake with her grandmother. The young, imaginative Holabird loved animals, playing in her tree house, and dancing with her sisters. In 1969, she received a B.A. in literature from Bennington College in Vermont and then worked at Bennington College as a literary editor for a year after her graduation. Holabird then found herself in Italy as a freelance journalist where she met her husband, Michael Haggiag. The two married in 1974 and moved to London where she continued to write and worked at a nursery school.
In 1983, her first children’s book, Angelina Ballerina, was published. Holabird’s son, Adam, was her inspiration for the character Henry, and Angelina’s character was inspired by her daughters’ love for dressing up and dancing. Holabird wrote the first draft of Angelina Ballerina at the kitchen table with her daughters dancing around her. In fact, the Angelina books were originally about a girl, but then Craig drew a mouse, and Holabird loved it. “The impulsive character of Angelina came alive,” says Holabird, “and seemed to pirouette off the page with enthusiasm and energy, while her plump and ebullient body expressed drama and attitude in every twitch of her tail.” Angelina is a very emotional character; she is sensitive and often bursts into tears right before offering an apology. She struggles with her conscience but always ends up doing the right thing—which is very familiar to many young children. The universal childhood themes in Angelina include friendship, jealousy, loyalty, & dedication. Holabird’s goal was to realistically portray the difficulties of growing up. According to Holabird, it is a ballerina book for “all the passionate little dancers and performers in the world,” including her own two daughters, which is why she “decided to explore the impulsive, highly emotional character of a small but determined ballerina.”
The first American edition of Angelina Ballerina was published in 1984. A year later, Holabird received the Kentucky Bluegrass Award for Angelina Ballerina. In 1986 and 1987, she received the ALA Notable Book Awards. Angelina’s Christmas was selected as Child Study Association’s Children’s Book of the Year in 1987. The following year, Holabird and Craig published Alexander and the Dragon, their first Alexander book; it is aimed at preschool children who want to be consoled about bedtime monsters. In 1990, Holabird wrote the Alexander sequel, Alexander and the Magic Boat, which portrays a strong mother/son relationship while the two go on a voyage to imaginary worlds. Also in 1990, Holabird received the British Book Design and Production award.
In 1999, HIT Entertainment in London (known for Thomas the Tank Engine, Bob the Builder, and Barney) secured the rights for Angelina Ballerina and commissioned Grand Slamm Children's Films to make an animated TV pilot. HIT also developed a lot of Angelina merchandise. Angelina made her worldwide television debut in 2001 on CITV in the United Kingdom. In 2002, the Angelina series premiered on PBS Kids TV in the United States. Angelina Ballerina’s Invitation to the Ballet received the prestigious Oppenheim Platinum Award in the U.S. in 2004. That same year, Angelina was named the official spokesperson of National Dance Week in the United States. In 2005, Angelina made her debut on PBS Kids Sprout, a twenty-four-hour digital television channel for preschoolers in the U.S.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 9, 2017
I still remember reading Angelina Ice Skates when I first got the book back when I was about five or six. It was my favourite book as a child, and I remember reading it over and over again, being absolutely enamoured by it. It was this book that actually prompt me to learn how to ice skate as a child, and it’s something I have loved ever since then, and I still partake in once a month now.
It was heavily this story that has inspired me from then until now, a good fifteen years of my life, only in something as small as ice skating, but this is a story that still holds a special place in my heart. I wouldn’t have a part of who I am today, an ice skater, still training to be an ice hockey player, if it has never been for Angelina Ice Skates.
This is a really wonderful story, almost a classic for my generation, from the Angelina Ballerina series, and if you have children, I would definitely recommend this story for them. Curl up with them and read it, it’s wonderful. I remember many times when my own Mother would read it to me, we would read it three or four times, and she seemed to enjoy every single reading of it. A book for both children and adults to enjoy, Holabird did an absolutely amazing job with this. I’d very happily sit and read it all again numerous times now. An absolute joy, and a book I owe a part of myself to.
It was heavily this story that has inspired me from then until now, a good fifteen years of my life, only in something as small as ice skating, but this is a story that still holds a special place in my heart. I wouldn’t have a part of who I am today, an ice skater, still training to be an ice hockey player, if it has never been for Angelina Ice Skates.
This is a really wonderful story, almost a classic for my generation, from the Angelina Ballerina series, and if you have children, I would definitely recommend this story for them. Curl up with them and read it, it’s wonderful. I remember many times when my own Mother would read it to me, we would read it three or four times, and she seemed to enjoy every single reading of it. A book for both children and adults to enjoy, Holabird did an absolutely amazing job with this. I’d very happily sit and read it all again numerous times now. An absolute joy, and a book I owe a part of myself to.
February 3, 2009
Not one of the more inspired Angelina books, but little girls into ice skating and pretty dresses will probably still enjoy the adorable pictures.
January 15, 2026
Sadly, I was underwhelmed by this story. Maybe if I loved the Angelina mouse series in general, I would have loved Angelina Ice Skates more? Not sure. The sparkly silver accents on the cover urged me to borrow this book from the library, but it just didn't speak to me. There was nothing wrong with the writing and I'm sure fans of the Angelina series would find this title fun and adorable. I think, compared to the other three children's books I borrowed that day (which were 4-5 star reads), this one fell short for me.
September 18, 2018
It's so cute how it shows her future. I don't know if this is one of the earlier ones or the later ones, but it's cute and ofc the illustrations are so pretty, it's a good book.
May 8, 2023
A classic sweet favourite with gorgeous illustrations 💗
June 18, 2022
Angelina is trying to put together an ice show but when she and her friends try to practice their routines, two boys keep messing things up. Her solution to include them in the festivities is clever and Henry's part is just perfect for him. I love books that show how much everyone can contribute in unique ways to make special things happen. Definitely one of the better books in the series.
February 11, 2019
Fairly predictable. I liked the way Angelina and her friends took on the planning, practicing and production of a program.
Kids who like Angelina will like this book.
favorite picture: having a snack in the kitchen at Angelina's house
Kids who like Angelina will like this book.
favorite picture: having a snack in the kitchen at Angelina's house
December 16, 2025
When two hockey players keep disrupting their rehearsals, Angelina the mouse decides to involve them in her and her friends' New Years ice skating show.
This story demonstrates how giving troublesome young people a designated task or important role can sometimes curb bad behavior.
Angelina's mother suggests that the two juvenile boys were "teasing" Angelina and her friends because they wanted them to pay attention to them. While they were certainly disrupting rehearsals for attention, they could also be acting like entitled jerks because they lack consideration for others and don't want to share the communal ice skating rink with others especially girls and younger children.
This story demonstrates how giving troublesome young people a designated task or important role can sometimes curb bad behavior.
Angelina's mother suggests that the two juvenile boys were "teasing" Angelina and her friends because they wanted them to pay attention to them. While they were certainly disrupting rehearsals for attention, they could also be acting like entitled jerks because they lack consideration for others and don't want to share the communal ice skating rink with others especially girls and younger children.
October 5, 2024
I the area of children’s literature this is an old title as it was copyrighted in 1993, however, I found it charming and peaceful and their remain lots of young children who are fond of ballet. I loved the double page spread illustration of all the ballet mouse children having a snowball fight on the pond. That illustration was followed by an adorable one of Angelina with her Mother and a few friends discussing the planned New Year’s Eve ballet at the pond. Angelina still needs a place on book shelves.
March 30, 2020
We read this book a few days ago and my only take away from it was Angelina’s mom explaining that the boy mice only chased and annoyed her because they wanted her attention. As soon as I read that we had to take a moment to discuss how bothering someone for attention is not the way we go about things. This book belongs firmly in the outdated pile for me. It’s the second Angelina book we’ve read and I wasn’t overly impressed with the first either, so I think we will skip the rest.
November 3, 2019
3yo loves this
February 13, 2020
Apples & hot chocolate, like Henry's birthday
February 17, 2023
Angelina plans a new year balett.
July 28, 2024
Ok, the thing about the teasing boys is problematic, but I still love those pages of colorful outfits as much as when I was six years old.
Also, is this the little kid mice version of Cutting Edge?
Also, is this the little kid mice version of Cutting Edge?
September 16, 2014
Angelina Ice Skates is another adventure filled book by Katharine Holabird. In this story, Angelina and her friends are practicing for the big New Year's Eve ice show, but can't seem to get any work done because of the silly boys always interrupting them. Of course, Angelina comes up with the idea to include the boys in the show since they desperately needed a Snow King. After they all worked together, the whole village came and enjoyed the successful show that Angelina and her friends worked so hard to put together.
I really enjoyed Helen Craig's illustrations in this book. The cover has another intricate border of snow flakes and the attention is brought right to Angelina, who has her usual confident and content facial expression as she glides across the ice. The pictures in this book are fun. For example, the two page spread of the snow ball fight is exciting and lively, with the motions of each snowball and dodging mouse being shown. The one thing that I believe could have been better in this book is the ending. I was not expecting the book to end so quickly. The whole story led up to the show, but then the actual performance was not even a factor in the book. I still find Angelina to be humorous and a good example of how most young girls are, busy and bossy.
I really enjoyed Helen Craig's illustrations in this book. The cover has another intricate border of snow flakes and the attention is brought right to Angelina, who has her usual confident and content facial expression as she glides across the ice. The pictures in this book are fun. For example, the two page spread of the snow ball fight is exciting and lively, with the motions of each snowball and dodging mouse being shown. The one thing that I believe could have been better in this book is the ending. I was not expecting the book to end so quickly. The whole story led up to the show, but then the actual performance was not even a factor in the book. I still find Angelina to be humorous and a good example of how most young girls are, busy and bossy.
December 19, 2011
In this Angelina adventure, Angelina and all the other mouselings are ice skating and decide to put on a show. While they are practicing for the show, Sammy and Spike, two boys, are being bullies. Angelina gets them back by stealing their hats. She then invites them to be part of the show. They agree to be a part of the show, which ends up spectacular. A beautiful book with a nice story and pretty illustrations.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2017
Hmm.
Not the top of my list for books to read, but popular with both the kids.
Things I like: it introduces them to a wintertime world they have not experienced living in Australia
Things I dislike: interaction between the boys and girls in the story is a bit old fashioned and not the message I want my kids to hear about interacting with other kids - luckily they can't read yet, so as with many books, the story received a quick edit as I was reading aloud.
Not the top of my list for books to read, but popular with both the kids.
Things I like: it introduces them to a wintertime world they have not experienced living in Australia
Things I dislike: interaction between the boys and girls in the story is a bit old fashioned and not the message I want my kids to hear about interacting with other kids - luckily they can't read yet, so as with many books, the story received a quick edit as I was reading aloud.
September 30, 2016
I think we're done with Angelina. This book was cute, until the boys kept bothering the girls and chasing them. The mom explained it away saying they probably just wanted their attention. The other book I read of hers had boys chasing Angelina, and she eventually concedes and lets them catch her. I mean....enough already.
September 8, 2025
As Angelina and her friends practice for the New Year's performance on ice at Miller's pond, Spike and Sammy disrupts them by playing ice hockey, and having a snowball fight. Angelina must come up with a way to solve her problems with Spike and Sammy. Her plan is a success, and the entire town enjoys the Ice Dance performance.
October 14, 2011
29 months - O loves Angelina so it was an automatic hit. When I read this book and read twirl or spin or anything related to ice skating moves she jumps up says "I can do that" and proceeds to spin around. Then sits down for more story.
August 17, 2016
Illustrations are beautiful, not the best of the Angelina books but it shall round the collection for my niece out nicely. I read this series as little girl but I hadn't read this one, which surprised me since it was published in '93, when Dad got me my first Angelina book.
October 22, 2025
2 ★ - (didn't care for it)
{Reviewed January 21st, 2025?} °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
A little underwhelming, honestly! Illustrations aren't as pretty as some of the other Angelina books and the writing and story were meh.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Recommended for... n/a
CWs: none?
All thoughts are my own!
{Reviewed January 21st, 2025?} °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
A little underwhelming, honestly! Illustrations aren't as pretty as some of the other Angelina books and the writing and story were meh.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Recommended for... n/a
CWs: none?
All thoughts are my own!
December 24, 2011
Hee hee. I love Angelina Ballerina!
September 26, 2010
A hit with my 3 year old.
December 24, 2010
cute story.
December 18, 2011
This book has beautiful pictures in it. The story is good, too. So is Angelina's dress in the ice skating show.
December 18, 2011
Angelina books are always fun. Even little Henry always manages to have fun and fit in with the older children. Nothing like a good book about ice skating in the beautiful Wintertime. =)
December 28, 2012
I think we've read a few Angelina books now that I have a little ballerina too. This is beautifully illustrated with a sweet story. An easy wintertime read for little ballerina's of ice skater's.
October 13, 2015
I liked how this book teaches how to resolve a problem and to give everyone a chance.
July 6, 2016
Gorgeous illustrations! I love how Angelina was able to solve her problem - the boys kept interrupting her performance practice and she couldn't find a Mouse King.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews