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The Too Tight Tutu
Merry dreams of becoming a ballerina. But she is too fat to be a ballerina - her little brother says so all the time. Once a week she attends Miss Lane's ballet class and every night she practises the dance steps for hours and hours. If only Miss Lane will let her perform the solo dance at the end of the term...
- GenresSpanish Literature
Paperback
First published April 23, 2007
2 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Sherryl Clark
78 books95 followersSome of my first short stories were crime fiction, and although in the last 20 years I have focused a lot more on writing children's and YA books, I've kept going with my crime writing. The first two novels are now stowed somewhere in the back of my filing cabinet!
But "Trust Me, I'm Dead", first draft written in 2009, was shortlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger and then published by Verve Books in the UK. What a journey with that novel. I love the character, a grumpy woman (secretly modelled on a young Judi Dench), and couldn't let go of the story. Nine drafts later ...
There are two more Judi novels ("Dead and Gone" and "Mad, Bad and Dead") - but my brand new character is PI Lou Alcott, with "Woman, Missing" published in 2024 by HQ/Harlequin.
More about my crime writing and books at www.sherrylclarkcrimewriter.com
I have been writing poems and stories for over twenty-five years, and have two collections of poetry published. Perseverance really does count, I think, for all kinds of writing.
In 1996 I wrote my first children’s book, "The Too-Tight Tutu", which was published in 1997 by Penguin Australia. I have since written over 60 children's and YA books, which are published around the world.
My verse novel "Farm Kid" won the 2005 NSW Premier’s Literary Award for Children’s Books. "Sixth Grade Style Queen (Not!)" was a 2008 CBCA Honour Book. My YA novel "Dying to Tell Me", published in the USA by KaneMiller, has also been published in Australia by me.
My author website for children's books is at www.sherrylclark.com. I also work as a freelance editor, manuscript development editor and mentor - information on these at www.sherrylclarkwritingcoach.com.
But "Trust Me, I'm Dead", first draft written in 2009, was shortlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger and then published by Verve Books in the UK. What a journey with that novel. I love the character, a grumpy woman (secretly modelled on a young Judi Dench), and couldn't let go of the story. Nine drafts later ...
There are two more Judi novels ("Dead and Gone" and "Mad, Bad and Dead") - but my brand new character is PI Lou Alcott, with "Woman, Missing" published in 2024 by HQ/Harlequin.
More about my crime writing and books at www.sherrylclarkcrimewriter.com
I have been writing poems and stories for over twenty-five years, and have two collections of poetry published. Perseverance really does count, I think, for all kinds of writing.
In 1996 I wrote my first children’s book, "The Too-Tight Tutu", which was published in 1997 by Penguin Australia. I have since written over 60 children's and YA books, which are published around the world.
My verse novel "Farm Kid" won the 2005 NSW Premier’s Literary Award for Children’s Books. "Sixth Grade Style Queen (Not!)" was a 2008 CBCA Honour Book. My YA novel "Dying to Tell Me", published in the USA by KaneMiller, has also been published in Australia by me.
My author website for children's books is at www.sherrylclark.com. I also work as a freelance editor, manuscript development editor and mentor - information on these at www.sherrylclarkwritingcoach.com.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 25, 2016
adorable. Se lee en 30 minutos, y en sus pocas páginas te transmite todo lo que Mary sueña y te anima a pelear con ella
August 19, 2023
Se trata de la historia de Merry, una niña entusiasta y perseverante, quien a pesar de la percepción de las personas a su alrededor, tiene confianza en sí misma. Cuando se le presenta la oportunidad de cumplir su sueño de ser bailarina de ballet, esas características serán imprescindibles.
Me encantó la personalidad de Merry pues en la historia evoluciona: tiene momentos en los que cambia y madura, en los que enfrenta sus miedos y aprende a verse con otros ojos. Me pareció un personaje complejo y muy real, con un lenguaje cercano y con el que se puede identificar un lector.
Acá mi comentario completo.
Me encantó la personalidad de Merry pues en la historia evoluciona: tiene momentos en los que cambia y madura, en los que enfrenta sus miedos y aprende a verse con otros ojos. Me pareció un personaje complejo y muy real, con un lenguaje cercano y con el que se puede identificar un lector.
Acá mi comentario completo.
June 12, 2019
back cover--Merry dreams of being a ballerina and dancing on a stage in a beautiful tutu... but there are no ballet schools where she lives, and everyone thinks she is too fat to be a ballerina. When a dance teacher finally arrives in town, Merry seizes her chance.
September 5, 2023
A fast classic, Ive had the book for years and I loved it as a kid and I love it now that Im older. I to was a ballerina for a year when I was 11 turning 12. ♥
July 24, 2025
está muy lindo el libro; Merry me recuerda a mí porque yo de pequeña también soñaba con practicar Ballet, me gustó mucho que ella si pudiera lograrlo.
February 4, 2016
A charming story about a girl who may not have the classic ballerina body but whose passion for dancing makes her FEEL like one.
Merry dreams of being a beautiful, graceful ballerina, complete with all the accoutrements. So when Miss Lane announces she will offer a ballet class at school for interested students, Merry signs up right away. Merry doesn’t have the classic ballerina’s body: she is round and chubby and the ballet clothing her mother can afford aren’t exactly true ballet style. But Merry loves her classes and wants to solo for an upcoming competition. Shortly before the competition, she tries on her performance tutu and suddenly sees that she is not graceful or elegant, just fat. The joy goes out for her but on the day of competition, when she feels the energy of the audience and hears the music, all she knows and feels is that she is a ballerina, no matter her appearance. She dances from her heart and does beautifully.
Merry dreams of being a beautiful, graceful ballerina, complete with all the accoutrements. So when Miss Lane announces she will offer a ballet class at school for interested students, Merry signs up right away. Merry doesn’t have the classic ballerina’s body: she is round and chubby and the ballet clothing her mother can afford aren’t exactly true ballet style. But Merry loves her classes and wants to solo for an upcoming competition. Shortly before the competition, she tries on her performance tutu and suddenly sees that she is not graceful or elegant, just fat. The joy goes out for her but on the day of competition, when she feels the energy of the audience and hears the music, all she knows and feels is that she is a ballerina, no matter her appearance. She dances from her heart and does beautifully.
September 9, 2007
not somethin id read again??
Read
May 30, 2008i think this book is a really good book and i owuld rate it 100 out of 100
Read
April 21, 2011cute and colorful
March 27, 2012
What a good sport. It was good to read a girlie book after all those boy books. Grade 6.
February 16, 2013
Edad lectora: 8+
February 25, 2015
Read this one with my Madison.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews