Books like Angelina Ballerina

Originally published in 1983, and then presented in this 25th Anniversary Edition in 2008, this first story about that dancing mouse, Angelina Ballerina, is immensely charming. Always dancing, always moving, Angelina is the despair of her mother, as she causes destruction wherever she goes with her arabesques, and is always running late because she is imagining her life as a ballerina. Then Mrs. Mousling speaks to Mr. Mouseling, and they cook up a plan: they will give Angelina a beautiful ballet dress and shoes, and send her to classes. This has positive results, and not just in the short term...I've been aware of Angelina Ballerina and its many sequels for quite some times now, but am only just now getting around to picking it up. How glad I am that I have, as I found Katharine Holabird's story sweet, and Helen Craig's artwork adorable. I particularly loved all the little details in the scenes depicting the Mouselings' home, and was reminded a bit of Jill Barklem's work, in the \ Brambly Hedge\ books. Young ballet enthusiasts will take this one to heart, but so will children who enjoy stories about mice and other little animals.