Shelagh Mcnicholas

From ballet class to rehearsal for the big show to the final curtsies—budding ballet stars show emergent readers each step and pirouette along the way! This Step 1 story has big type and easy words, rhyme and rhythm, and picture clues and two sheets of irresistably adorable stickers. It's a natural for young readers who are learning ballet or aspire to take ballet classes.

Tilly, who loves ballet, plays the part of a cat in her class's dance recital.

Tilly is thrilled when she gets to see her aunt perform in the ballet, "The Sleeping Beauty, " especially because she gets to go backstage and even on the stage itself.

Alex Hastings is very ill, and must travel to America for an operation, but when her beloved kitten disappears into the snowy countryside, Mandy and James vow to find it before Alex leaves on her trip.

Mandy Hope asks Rachael Farmer to take care of their neighbor's guinea pigs so that her parents will realize that Rachel is responsible enough to have a pet of her own, only to have one of the baby guinea pigs disappear.

While searching for a sleek, fast, and spirited pony to own, a young girl comes to realize that the "perfect" pony is actually very different.

James is excited when he is given the job of caring for the school hamster over summer vacation, but when it is stolen, he must find the culprit and save the poor animal.

Houdini the goat gets in big trouble, and Mandy and James vow to save him.

Mandy and her friend James, assisted by Blackie the labrador retriever, help Mandy's grandmother save the village hospital from being closed and, at the same time, save the lives of a newborn lamb and their young neighbor Jenny.

Cousins Sophia Grace and Rosie plan a princess tea party, with invitations and costumes.