I appreciated that this book describes what sort of work goes into being a professional performing artist. Even adult ballerinas must work hard and practice, and sometimes dancers get hurt, and you do your best to accommodate when the unexpected arises.

With all due respect to the reviewer who commented on the book's treatment of food, I found that describing how much the dancer eats was actually useful in showing that the dancer needs energy and eats regular, nutritious meals. And while the illustrations may strike some as showing "freakishly thin people," they are stylized in a way that's reminiscent of costume design concept drawings. Ballet has begun to include a slightly wider diversity of body types, but there is still an emphasis on certain lines, angles, forms; if that's problematic, then a parent might wish to steer his or her child toward something other than ballet.

Although the artwork is beautiful, this book made me uneasy. The text points out all the food the ballerina eats in the day (eggs and toast for breakfast, a banana for lunch, and a "small" dinner...despite a full day of physical activity). This unnecessary focus on food combined with the freakishly thin people in the illustrations makes me doubt its suitability for any child at risk of an eating disorder or who struggles with body image.