Ella Bella Ballerina and Swan Lake
By James Mayhew
The Story
A young ballet student listens to music from Swan Lake in her dance class and is magically transported into the story, where she meets Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer.
Why It's Special
For the kid who twirls through the living room and begs to hear the same ballet music on repeat, this one turns a dance class into a doorway.
- Big idea: Music and imagination can carry you straight into the stories you love.
- Vibes: Dreamy, graceful, and touched with old-theatre magic.
Perfect For Kids Who
- love ballet and princess stories
- enjoy classical music and orchestral tales
- like to imagine themselves inside a story
- are curious about where famous stories like Swan Lake come from
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & imagination: What do you think it felt like for Ella Bella to be transported into the world of Swan Lake?
- Character connection: How do you think Odette felt after the sorcerer turned her into a swan?
- Real-life connection: Has music ever made you imagine you were somewhere else? Where did you go?
- Creative play: If you took a ballet class like Ella Bella, which story would you want to dance?
- Learning more: What did you learn about Tchaikovsky and how he wrote the music for Swan Lake?
