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Angelina Ballerina
Angelina and the Butterfly
When Angelina finds a beautiful butterfly with a twisted leg, she's determined to look after it and keep it forever—until, that is, Henry lets it out of the jar by mistake. Distraught, Henry and Angelina set off to recapture the lost butterfly, and learn some surprising things along the way.
24 pages, Paperback
First published June 6, 2002
About the author
Katharine Holabird
290 books82 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 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 31, 2016
Personal Response:
I give “Angelina and the Butterfly,” by Katharine Holabird a five star rating for a children’s book. I read the book with my neighbor, Lexi, who is three, and she absolutely loved it. She made me read the book to her three times in a row! Being the storyline is easy follow along with comprehensible text for a child, I gave the book five stars. I also liked how the plot taught a few valuable lessons.
Plot:
Angelina is out at a picnic with a few of her friends when an injured butterfly lands on her paw. Naturally she wants to help nurse the butterfly back to health. However, no matter how hard Henry tries, Angelina is too protective to let him or anyone else touch the butterfly. Henry won’t give up hope, so he sneaks into Angelina’s room. When suddenly the lid pops off the butterfly's jar. He tries to catch it, but he is to short. Before he knows it the butterfly flies out of the window. This results in a missing butterfly, and Angelina and Henry looking high and low to find it. Once they search the town, they move on to the Big Woods. They end up lost and stuck in a hole. After they are found and back safe and sound, Angelina learns that nature should say with nature.
Characterization:
Angelina is a young mouseling, and she wants to be in control of everything. Henry is Angelina’s younger cousin, who wants to experience everything he can. This way he can be just like his older cousin. Angelina soon learns she can’t control Henry, nor can she control her surroundings. She later learns to be content with what she has.
Setting:
In the small town of Chipping Cheddar, is where the mouselings call home. This summer day the Big Woods is
where Angelina always seems to find her trouble just on the outside of town. The countryside community is close knit, and they are caring about all who are in it.
Recommendation:
I recommend parents to read this book to their young girls. The story is more feminized, so I recommend this book for girls. I think that girls ages three through six would enjoy this book. I found it’s a great book for them to read because of the lessons taught.
I give “Angelina and the Butterfly,” by Katharine Holabird a five star rating for a children’s book. I read the book with my neighbor, Lexi, who is three, and she absolutely loved it. She made me read the book to her three times in a row! Being the storyline is easy follow along with comprehensible text for a child, I gave the book five stars. I also liked how the plot taught a few valuable lessons.
Plot:
Angelina is out at a picnic with a few of her friends when an injured butterfly lands on her paw. Naturally she wants to help nurse the butterfly back to health. However, no matter how hard Henry tries, Angelina is too protective to let him or anyone else touch the butterfly. Henry won’t give up hope, so he sneaks into Angelina’s room. When suddenly the lid pops off the butterfly's jar. He tries to catch it, but he is to short. Before he knows it the butterfly flies out of the window. This results in a missing butterfly, and Angelina and Henry looking high and low to find it. Once they search the town, they move on to the Big Woods. They end up lost and stuck in a hole. After they are found and back safe and sound, Angelina learns that nature should say with nature.
Characterization:
Angelina is a young mouseling, and she wants to be in control of everything. Henry is Angelina’s younger cousin, who wants to experience everything he can. This way he can be just like his older cousin. Angelina soon learns she can’t control Henry, nor can she control her surroundings. She later learns to be content with what she has.
Setting:
In the small town of Chipping Cheddar, is where the mouselings call home. This summer day the Big Woods is
where Angelina always seems to find her trouble just on the outside of town. The countryside community is close knit, and they are caring about all who are in it.
Recommendation:
I recommend parents to read this book to their young girls. The story is more feminized, so I recommend this book for girls. I think that girls ages three through six would enjoy this book. I found it’s a great book for them to read because of the lessons taught.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2018
It was cute but not really that interesting because I know really nothing about Angelina.
June 13, 2020
The continuing series of the character Angelina and in this one, she meets and captures a butterfly and wants to keep the animal. Her friend, Henry, intervenes and has another perspective. Contains thematic elements for children to learn from. If you are a fan of the series, you are definitely bound to like this book.
October 15, 2017
Angelina finds a butterfly with a bum leg and when it flies away, she and her cousin run to find it, only to become stranded in a hole.
March 17, 2021
The kids and I love the Angelina series. They’ve asked for this book several times.
October 28, 2013
I have two four-year-olds who have become enamored with the Angelina Ballerina television shows, to the extent that they pretend to be the characters, and then fight constantly over who is pretending to be which character at any given time. So I got them some of the Angelina Ballerina books, because I am stupid and do stupid things, and now the children want the books read to them at every opportunity, including during the fourth quarter of NFL games.
"You bought those books," my wife says. "It's your responsibility."
And so I read them. This is the worst of them, by far. In this book, Angelina captures a pink butterfly with a crooked leg, puts him in a glass jar, gives him a name, and then runs away from home when the butterfly escapes.
"And then Angelina got eaten by a cat," I say.
"No! No! No!"
"Okay then."
(reading the story)
"And then Angelina realized she couldn't get out of the pit and died."
"No! No! No!"
Not to belabor the point, but it is left up to the heroic butterfly to rescue Angelina, because of course it is. The. Heroic. Butterfly.
(I know. I KNOW. I have already accepted the reality of the ballerina mouse; is it THAT much of a stretch to accept the reality of the heroic butterfly? YES. YES, IT IS.)
The story is cute and my kids love it and they're four--it doesn't hurt anything to have them believe in heroic butterflies. I think. I still think that Angelina should get eaten by a cat.
"You bought those books," my wife says. "It's your responsibility."
And so I read them. This is the worst of them, by far. In this book, Angelina captures a pink butterfly with a crooked leg, puts him in a glass jar, gives him a name, and then runs away from home when the butterfly escapes.
"And then Angelina got eaten by a cat," I say.
"No! No! No!"
"Okay then."
(reading the story)
"And then Angelina realized she couldn't get out of the pit and died."
"No! No! No!"
Not to belabor the point, but it is left up to the heroic butterfly to rescue Angelina, because of course it is. The. Heroic. Butterfly.
(I know. I KNOW. I have already accepted the reality of the ballerina mouse; is it THAT much of a stretch to accept the reality of the heroic butterfly? YES. YES, IT IS.)
The story is cute and my kids love it and they're four--it doesn't hurt anything to have them believe in heroic butterflies. I think. I still think that Angelina should get eaten by a cat.
September 9, 2013
At Miss Lilly's picnic, Angelina encounters a butterfly with a hurt leg. Angelina decides to rescue him and so she takes him home puts him in a jar with leaves and names him Arthur. Feeling that she is the only one that can really care for Arthur, Angelina never lets anyone else near him. After Arthur is better, Angelina is reluctant to set him free. Since the picnic, Henry has wanted to hold Arthur. One afternoon he goes into Angelina's bedroom one and opens the jar. Just as Angelina walks into her room, Arthur flies out the window. The chase is on! Angelina and Henry end up stuck and lost in the woods. Arthur comes to their rescue. In the end, Angelina decides that Arthur is better off free now that he is well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2010
Four stars for making me laugh and being crazy all at once. I know that kids books aren't exactly realistic but a butterfly saving the day of the village and two little lost mice was weird even for me. Illustrations are neutral I suppose. Cute for butterfly lovers.
November 21, 2011
I remember watching this cartoon, but I love to read the little books. The relationships between all of the towns-mice are so well developed! I really enjoy seeing the tears in the character's eyes, it just makes the experience so much more realistic. =)
April 9, 2012
Natalie was singing the Angelina Ballerina theme song a lot, so we pulled out this book my mom gave her way back. We read the pictures mostly since it was too long for bed time. Nothing really outstanding about this story, but Natalie liked it because it had Angelina and butterflies.
September 9, 2016
3.5 stars -- A simple lesson in compassion that all kids can relate to. Angelina captures a butterfly in a jar. Angelina thinks she's doing the creature a favor, but the butterfly is unhappy. At the end, she learns a valuable lesson about leaving wild critters in the wild.
November 19, 2007
It was great because I like butterflys
July 6, 2008
This book was part of a four pack of Angelina stories. This one is only marginally less trite than the others, but our girls seem to really like them.
September 4, 2008
I love this book
March 5, 2009
Cute, but I like the originals better.
April 8, 2010
I liked this book because I like butterflies.
I learned that you should not keep a butterfly in a jar because it feels like it's in prison.
I learned that you should not keep a butterfly in a jar because it feels like it's in prison.
November 19, 2011
My favorite part was when Arthur flew off at the end. My favorite butterflies at the end are the red and blue ones.
Read
September 9, 2016Good moral for kids to not keep animals in captivity.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews