Vampirina Ballerina

Vampirina Ballerina

by Anne Marie Pace

Oh, to be a ballerina! It's a challenge for any little girl, but even more so if you happen to be a vampire like Vampirina. First of all, you have to find a class that meets at night. Then you have to figure out how to perfect your form when you can't see yourself in the mirror? And then there's wearing pink (not the most flattering of colors if you happen to be undead) and that nagging urge to take a little nip out of the other dancers. And worse of all STAGE FRIGHT!!!

Genres: Picture Books, Halloween, Childrens, Vampires, Fantasy, Fiction, Humor

Paperback

First published August 7, 2012

About the author

Anne Marie Pace is a picture book author. She is the author of the VAMPIRINA BALLERINA series, illustrated by LeUyen Pham, published by Disney-Hyperion starting in 2012, which is in production as a Disney Junior animated series to debut in 2017; and PIGLOO (Henry Holt, illustrated by Lorna Hussey, October, 2016). Her upcoming books include GROUNDHUG DAY (Disney-Hyperion, illustrated by Christopher Denise, December, 2017), and BIG-EYED BUG (Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster, illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon, 2018), as well as the new VAMPIRINA AT THE BEACH, coming in April 2017. Past books include NEVER EVER TALK TO STRANGERS and A TEACHER FOR BEAR, both published by Scholastic Book Clubs. She lives with her family in Virginia.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun book - great to give to your favorite ballerina on Halloween - would be a great costume idea. I really like stories like this; combinations that I would have never thought up on my own. I really like the art - kind of reminded me of some of the cartoons I use to watch when I was a little boy.

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the series, but due to delays with the library I read this one last.
It's a cute introduction of a great character and has all the fun art the other 3 books have.
I'm really hoping they make more books past the four that are out now.
I want more adorable!!!

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute kids book about a little vampire who is totally different and unique from the rest of her ballerina class. Love how it taught kids that being themselves is all they need to be. Great illustrations.

[Colona Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book the story and illustrations are beautiful. This book is about a young vampire who is determined to be a ballerina and has a challenge of fitting in with her class. Through her hard work, practice, and support from her family she reaches her goal and earns the respect and friendship of her peers.

I love the illustration, I like how you can tell in the world that these creatures exist and people are still kinda weary of, I love how it's a bright character who likes to wear black, and I love how each of the family members have something they like to do that is artistic (sculpture, reading, painting, etc)
If you really like this book I recommend The Princess in Black

~Ashley

[Laela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, Cute, Cute! That’s what this book is. It’s full of practical advice for any young vampire looking to become a ballerina.

This gorgeous book takes black, white, and pink illustrations and adds irresistible sparkles to make the drawings complete. Everything has a cool vintage feel about it. The illustrations remind me a lot of Mary Blair. I couldn’t help but be charmed by this sweet story of a girl who is a little bit different but still dreams of being a ballerina.

The little Vampirina gives good advice “A mistake here or there is not a reflection on your talent.” Her family all pitches in to help her succeed in her goals. This is a little vampire who works hard to get what she wants. She also makes us realize that just because you are different, does not mean you are strange or unlikable. Vampirina is clever, funny, wise, and I adore her.

[Shanshad Whelan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will freely admit to glimpsing the title and doing an eyeroll of the cynical sort. I am not the reader who embraces all things princess, pink, ballerina or sparkly. I usually can't stand such books that convince girls to assume the "girly" mantle. Oh, but this THIS is a marvelous book.

The text explains in matter-of-fact encouraging language how a little vampire might become a ballerina. But it's the pictures that win the day. LeUyen Pham manages to channel shades of the Addams' Family and combine it with a sense of whimsy and sweetness that makes this little gothic gal shine--even at her most awkward. I never thought an awkward vampire could be so endearing!

And the message of perseverance and practice to achieve her dreams is perfectly toned to impart the same to a young audience chasing their own dreams.

[Storywraps · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun book about an adorable, loveable little vampirette who longingly dreams to become a dancer. She hangs posters of dancers over her coffin and her headstone is completed with quotes about dancing. She spends so much time dancing around the house that her mother and father decide it's time to starting classes. She does have challenges to overcome. She first of all has to chose a night class. She has to figure out how to perfect her form when she is unable to see herself in any of the mirrors. She has to resist the urge to take a little nip out of the other dancers and worst of all she has to conquer her Stage Fright! Oh my, what is a goth girl supposed to do? She is instructed not to show her fangs and always to get a good night's sleep. She is a fortunate little vampire because she has the full support of her family which is made up of ghouls and monsters. She focuses, is unwavering, and works very hard towards achieving her goal and executing an amazing debut performance, making friends along the way.

Although the main character is a vampire, the book is not scary at all. The two themes that run through the book are: reach your dreams through perseverance, never, ever give up. The book shows you how to deal with your feelings of inadequacy and insecurity when you are an outsider trying to fit in to mainstream despite your obvious uniqueness.

The illustrations are charming, simple, expressive and cartoon-like. The illustrator, herself an immigrant from Vietnam, knows how hard it is to assimilate into a new lifestyle. She takes the colours black, white and pink and then adds sparkles which adds such luxury and fun to them. The illustrations are pure perfection and dove-tail exactly with the text.

Vampirina learns that, "Even without wings, you can leap higher than you think."

[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an adorable book giving tips to a vampire girl that wants to be a ballerina. She is encouraged to practice and not give up. Also, she is told the important of drinking water and having healthy meals. I remember my ballet teachers telling me that I was too fat and my doctor telling me that I was too skinny.

[Lorna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really sold on why we need to introduce little ones to the vampire trend, but it IS a totally cute book with the theme of persevering and that it's ok to be a little different.

[Joella · Rating 5 out of 5]

One little vampire is a Dancing Queen around her spooky home. When her parents sign her up for night classes at a ballet studio, she is in heaven. But there are a few mishaps on her way to fulfulling her dreams. She must learn to not bring her pets (a cat and a bat), not trip on her cape, and not turn into a bat when things get tricky. But with a few good suggestions she learns how to keep working toward her dream so that she can dance as well as anyone.

Honestly, the story is fun--but the pictures are what make this book! The Vampirina Ballerina is so adorable (I love the pink and black and the sparkles). And there are so many funny moments that you wouldn't get from the text. For example at one point everyone is looking in the mirror at the ballet studio and everyone has a reflection except for our young ballerina. Or when she is practicing around the haunted mansion each scene is hillarious (and the writing on the toombstones is a nice touch).

If there are little girls who love monsters, dancing, ballet, or all things pink and sparkly...this will be a fun book for them to check out of the library...or own! And since there are as many jokes for the parents as bits of the story for the little one, adults will want to read this again and again along with their kiddo. Well done!

[Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story about a vampire that is determined to be a ballerina!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vampirina is like any young girl who dreams of becoming a graceful ballerina, except for her fangs. With the help of her Munster-like family, she practices her pliés to prepare for the big recital, where she will earn the respect of her human peers, despite the difference in her appearance. The narration of this picture book plays like a 1950’s instructional video while the gothic font dances around the nostalgic watercolor illustrations. This is a great read for any child who longs to achieve a goal, who needs reassurance that it is okay to be yourself, or who values the unique, unspoken details of illustrated background characters.

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute! I'm always a fan of children's lit that challenges the typical pink-and-frills of ballerinas, princesses, and the like. She's an adorable little vampire who wants to be a ballerina! She practices with all she's got, and eventually falls right into belonging in the world of ballet.

My only thing is that she's consistently told to reel in her vampire-ness for the sake of the other girls, and so she doesn't look too out of the ordinary. Kind of gives me the vibe that if you're different, you need to act with some kind of restraint around others. But then, turning into a bat during your pirouette would be a bit problematic.

[Alexandria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone knows what a ballerina looks like, right?!...Right?

The underlying message of this book is a little subtle but it's easy to pick up on when you're looking: just because Vampirina doesn't look like the other pink-clad and rosy-cheeked girls has no effect on her desire to be a ballerina and or her ability to dance. There are other books out there that are much more blatant in their message, but this is a cute addition to their ranks that employs the creepy-cute/creepy-cool factor.

[Jocelin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, cute & more cute. Did I say that this book was cute? I loved the story of a little vampire wanting to be a ballerina. So sweet and the story illustrations are very glamorous and vintage looking. I loved this book. I wish I could buy this for my niece. She is way past the age of storytime reading (she's 10). Anyone with aspirations of being a ballerina (maybe a vampire) should read this book. Great read.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Vampirina Ballerina" is a cute children's story about a vampire who takes ballet classes- at night, of course. The other students are not vampires, which makes it even cuter. The ratio of words to pictures is perfect, and the story is cute with some tidbits to make little kids giggle all the way through- it's pretty clear why this was picked up by Disney for a series! The illustrations are really great themselves, and this is a great book to be read with toddlers!

[Chance Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess this is now a Disney Channel show, so I disapprove on principal, but this book is really nice. The illustrations are lush and detailed. The story is fun and funny for both kids and adults. So many little in jokes and fun images. Overall it's a story about being clumsy at dance but trying your best and still performing in the recital. Lovely.

[J. Boo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was reasonably OK story of how a little, somewhat clumsy girl, much more "girly" than her immediate family, starts attending ballet class. The twist is that the pictures show the little girl is a vampire. The sequel, Vampirina Ballerina Hosts a Sleepover, is significantly better.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute. Great moments of humor because of her being a vampire. I think this will be cute in storytime.

7/13/16 Used in V is for theme. So the boys didn't laugh as I thought they would. But overall the crowd seemed to enjoy it.

[Christine (Tina) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe I haven't read this before! The illustrations are so cute. Vampirina is just like any other little girl wanting to be a ballerina...except she can turn into a bat and has fangs and has to practice at night and get a "good day's sleep". Adorable!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun twist on the familiar "I want to be a ballerina" story.

[Deborah]

Sweet ballerinas, without too much pink sugar.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

PICTURE BOOK PERFECTION!!!!

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to own this mash-up of the Addams Family and Angelina Ballerina. Her great challenge is not turning into a bat when she gets nervous.

[Baroness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorably cute.

[NTE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for

[Amory Blaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

My three-year-old niece has just become obsessed with dance poses thanks to Angelina Ballerina, but her goth-inspired parents find that series excruciating. This story of a young vampire who wishes to start ballet is the perfect blend of spooky and sparkly for their family, and probably for many others too!

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with fun illustrations.
The kids had fun trying to figure out how Vampirina went from one room to another in her house and trying to imagine ghostly creatures for her to hang out with. (We decided there were secret passageways and doorways.)
We thought it was pretty funny whenever she accidentally turned into a bat.

[Briana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note to self: Just because there is glitter on the cover does not mean that the book is going to be super amazing.

[Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! I imagine it's great for kids, but I loved it as an adult ballet dancer. ;)