Nina, Nina Ballerina

by Jane O'Connor, DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan (Illustrator)

It's the big dance show!
Nina is a butterfly.
She has pretty wings
and a bug mask.
But she is not the only one!
There are lots of butterflies.
How will her mom know
which one is Nina?
Read this funny story and find out!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1993

About the author

Since the publication of Fancy Nancy, Jane O'Connor's closet now boasts so many boas, tiaras, and sparkly ensembles that sometimes friends do not recognize her on the street. She still resides (that's a fancy word for lives) in New York City with her family and their canine companion, Arrow. --from the publisher's website

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just okay for me. Very simply told, so good for beginning readers. Theme of overcoming fears/insecurities about performing and or feeling inferior to those in class better than you is good.

[Amanda Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adorable children's book!

[Melinda Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nina wants so badly to be a ballerina, but knows she will not get the best part because she isn't as good as the lead ballerina. She worries that her mother will not recognize her in the show; she will be in the same costume as all the other dancers. As she practices flying like a butterfly at school, she falls and breaks her arm. Now what will Nina do? Will she still be able to dance? Will her mother know who she is if she dances? Read this cute book to find out why breaking your arm is not the worst thing that can happen to you.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nina wants to be a ballerina although she is not as good as Sarah who is the best dancer in the class. With a dance show coming up, Nina is excited and practices as much as she can. All the performers, except Sarah, will be dressed the same, and Nina is worried that her mother won't know which one she is. When Nina gets hurt on the playground, for sure her mother will be able to recognize her in the show now! Cute story and illustrations.

[Emma Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nina, Nina Ballerina is a fun beginner reader story with vivid colors, detailed pictures, and an easy to follow story. The book tells a nice story of perseverance and persistence that many kids will be able to relate to in some way.

[Jc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great young reader story for the young girls in the class to enjoy.

[Jennifer Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book I ever read on my own as a kid. This Started my love of reading.

[Alexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was all over the place.

[Lavinia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was about a little girl named Nina. She wants to do ballet. She can stand on one leg, but not like Sarah can. Mrs. Dawn, her teacher, asks Nina's friend to be the Butterfly Queen. In the park the day before the show, Nina flutters and swings. Her friends call out to her to watch out, but it was too late: Nina already fell. Her mother takes her to the doctor. Her doctor takes an x ray of Nina's arm, and it is broken, and he puts a cast on her. Nina feels like she doesn't have wings anymore, and her mother says "pretend you have a broken wing." Mrs. Dawn tells the class to do their best, and that is just what Nina does.

I liked this book a lot. My favorite parts were the parts where Nina could stand on one leg, and where she could do a split.

[Children's Literature Project · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grade Level Equivalent: 1.5

Summary: Nina is a young girl who loves ballet. Her ballet class will be putting on a butterfly dance, and Nina wants to stand out from the other girls so her mother knows which butterfly she is. The day before her recital, she falls and breaks her arm. Nina is upset because now she won't have butterfly wings, yet her mother tells her that because of her cast she will be sure to stand out from the other butterflies.

Lesson Integration: This story can be used to teach students the basic problem in the story and how it is resolved at the end. The story is very easy to read and the pictures help emergent readers to follow the dialogue and identify picture clues.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

1st- 2nd

Nina is a little girl who loves to ballet. Nina’s ballet class is having a recital where they all have to wear butterfly customs. This was not good Nina did not like this idea. She wanted to look different so he mother would be able to see her from her classmates. She practices her part constantly, but the day before the performance, she falls and breaks her arm. Poor Nina has to wear a cast, but now Nina's mother can tell which butterfly she is!
This is the story for that one student who always want to stand out. Nina explores the idea of wanting to stand out but relies that its ok to fit in.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

My son (an avid little dancer) appreciated getting to see, on one page, a boy in the ballet recital with all the girls. I wasn't thrilled with the idea that, by breaking her arm, Nina got to stand-out in the recital. I'd rather have seen Nina learn to dance as a part of a class, blending in for the good of the show, without the bizarre celebrity of wearing a cast. Strange, sour note for me.

[Daniella · Rating 4 out of 5]

so cute

[***Lulu*** · Rating 3 out of 5]

This used to be my favorite book when I was little.

[Lydia Moses · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books growing up. I really liked these books because they are easy to read and they are easy to follow along.

[Nina Test · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter loved this book. Her name is Nina and she had me read it over and over again. It was a simple but enjoyable book

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty great story about a ballet class. I like the plot.