Ballet Shoes - Noel Streatfeild

...1936 she wrote the classic Ballet Shoes, and then wrote 30 other children's books. Noel sadly died in 1986. From the popular ‘Shoes’ series, ‘Ballet Shoes’ is the only one that has remained in print, over the years. The others were fortunately, recently republished. I first read ‘Ballet Shoes’ when I was 10 and have re-read it for several years, I can still pick it up now at the grand old age of 20. Her books gave me immense pleasure as a child, ...
...many other children’s books with ballet and acting. I highly recommend this book to all girls from age 8 and beyond, you won’t be disappointed.

~~Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild,
Published by Penguin Books Ltd ISBN 0140300414 in Paperback (1998)
Available at WHSmith for £5.99. ~~

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‘Ballet Shoes’ tells us about bond that grows between three adopted sisters who aren‘t really sister, in pre-war England. Pauline, Petrova and Posy Fossil were adopted as infants by Great Uncle Mathew. Uncle Mathew collects the three girls one after the other in much the same fashion that he collected his fossils. The girls are looked after by his niece, Sylvia and his housekeeper. Their story revolves around each girl’s struggle to fulfil her dreams and be marked in history. Pauline, named after St Paul, is an aspiring actress. Petrova, named after St Peter and her Russian heritage, desperately wishes to become a mechanic and pilot. And Posy, the vainest of the three, will become in her mind, the greatest ballerina of all time.

Mary Noel Streatfeild was born in 1897, in Amberly, Sussex, England. She trained as an actress, and acted for nine years before writing her first book, for adults. In 1936 she wrote the classic Ballet Shoes, and then wrote 30 other children's books. Noel sadly died in 1986. From the popular ‘Shoes’ series, ‘Ballet Shoes’ is the only one that has remained in print, over the years. The others were fortunately, recently republished. I first read ‘Ballet Shoes’ when I was 10 and have re-read it for several years, I can still pick it up now at the grand old age of 20. Her books gave me immense pleasure as a child, as I loved ballet. The style of writing is charmingly old-fashioned and reminds me fondly of writer’s such as, Susan Coolidge (‘What Kate Did’, series) and a little of Enid Blyton’s earlier work. The writing draws you in to experience the characters’ world.

All the characters are very endearing, even Gum (Great Uncle Mathew). Pauline, is a girly girl, with her fair looks and love of attractive clothes. While, Petrova has a dark colouring and a love of mechanics, that makes her different from Pauline and Posy and indeed many other girls her age. The vain Posy, is the youngest girl and takes the most time fitting in with the other two. All three girls are sent to a performance school because money is short. The Stage school, helps them discover what they really want. I liked the way the character’s grew as people, with their ambitions and relationships. I could most relate to Posy as a child, because I never seemed to do the conventional thing.

Although, they are orphans, they are loved dearly by Aunt Sylvia. But what niggled me when reading it again as an adult, was the girl’s lack of curiosity about their parents. This is probably because they are still children, involved in their own interests. ‘Ballet’ does not centre heavily on ballet, it also features acting and focuses largely on the girls problems and relationships with each other and their loyal desire to make their name "Fossil" famous.

Overall, this is a sweet and innocent tale of the trial and tribulations of dance and stage school for three different girls. ‘Ballet Shoes’ was the first children’s book to feature a stage school and this is what I think makes its such a delightful and popular children’s book. There’s not many other children’s books with ballet and acting. I highly recommend this book to all girls from age 8 and beyond, you won’t be disappointed.

~~Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild,
Published by Penguin Books Ltd ISBN 0140300414 in Paperback (1998)
Available at WHSmith for £5.99. ~~

 

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