Tallulah, the young would-be ballerina whose story began in Tallulah's Tutu and then continued in Tallulah's Solo, returns in this third picture-book devoted to her ballet adventures. In this installment, Tallulah longs to dance on pointe, and is impatient with her teacher's insistence that she isn't ready for her own toe-shoes. When one of the older girls in her studio, who played the Lilac Fairy in a production of Sleeping Beauty, throws away an old pair of toe shoes, Tallulah grabs them, and attempts to dance in them at home. Even with the help of her young brother Beckett, however, she finds that it isn't as simple as it seems. When the Lilac Fairy catches her returning the shoes, they have a chat, and Talullah learns that she is not alone, either in wishing for toe shoes before she is ready, or in 'borrowing' some to experiment.

Like its predecessors, Tallulah's Toe Shoes is a charming tale, one which captures a young ballet dancer's joy and frustration, as she slowly progresses in her chosen field. As always, I liked both the titular heroine and her dancing brother, whose inclusion emphasizes that ballet isn't just for girls, while also inserting some family drama (sibling rivalry and sibling cooperation) into the larger dance story. The artwork by Alexandra Boiger, done in watercolor, is darling. The decorative endpapers, showing the Lilac Fairy demonstrating the échappé on pointe, and Tallulah demonstrating the demi-pointe, add to the visual appeal. Recommended to young ballet lovers, and to readers who enjoyed the first two Tallulah books. ( )

Tallulah is back in ballet class and now she wants to go en pointe—to dance up on the tips of her toes in pink satin toe shoes, like a real ballerina. But going en pointe is not good for growing feet, and her ballet teacher says her feet aren't ready yet. Oh, yes, they are, Tallulah thinks. And so am I. Not only is she ready, she's determined. And nothing stops Tallulah when her mind is made up.

This book would be great for characteristics and character traits. She is such a brave girl and never gives up no matter what anyone says. She is determined to follow her dreams. This is a great example of someone who is motivated and so many other characteristics that you can talk about, this book does a great job of showing many character traits.

Tallulah wants toe shoes, but her teacher says she is not ready for them. An older girl throws her old toe shoes away and Tallulah sneaks them from the garbage. She tries them at home and she realizes that her feet are not ready for them, she brings the shoes back and throws them away. The older girl catches her and they talk and she ends up letting her know that she will be ready one day.
Source: Pierce County Library
Age: 4-6

Tallulah is a little girl who desperately wants to be a ballerina and dance with toe shoes. After trying to stand on her second-hand toe shoes (which are a little too big), a ballerina explains how hard it really is to dance on your toes and that she would have to wait until her feet are complelty grown to do it. Cute book about growing up and learning things the hard way. ( )