Have you ever worked so hard practicing something but still feel like you are making mistakes? Each minor slip up takes away a bit of your self-confidence. Today I get to share a picture book with you about a girl who has a desire to dance but feels like she just can't do it correct until her parents give her a special pair of magic shoes. The book is Ellie's Dancing Shoes by Scott Sollers and illustrated by Bryan Janky. There is a giveaway at the end of this post!
About the Book:
Ellie’s Dancing Shoes Written by Scott Sollers and Illustrated by Bryan JankyAges: 4-8 | 38 Pages | Publisher: Mascot Books (2025) | ISBN: 979-8891383418
Publisher’s Book Summary: There is nothing Ellie wants more than to become a ballerina.
Every day she practices her stretches, leaps, twirls, and jumps. But Ellie doesn’t believe in herself. Her self-doubt gets in the way, and when she stretches, she slips. When she bends, she falls over. When she leaps, she slides. When she twirls or jumps, she gets all twisted and slumped over.
Until one day, her parents gave Ellie her grandmother’s magical dancing shoes. Soon, there are only graceful jumps, beautiful leaps, and dizzying twirls.
When the day of Ellie’s audition to become a ballerina arrives, her magic dancing shoes are lost. Will Ellie find them in time before her audition, or must she perform without them?
A beautifully illustrated story that shows children that their magic can be found within.
Purchase Links:
About the Author:
Scott Sollers worked as an investment banker in the municipal securities industry for decades. He created Ellie’s Dancing Shoes and other nighttime stories for his daughter Stephanie when she was a youngster. Originally, he handwrote and illustrated these stories and finally had the inspiration to get them published. Scott is an avid golfer and the president of First Tee for the San Francisco region, a not-for-profit organization that teaches core values through golf to children. He currently resides in San Mateo, California, with his cat Charlie.
For more information, visit
- scottsollersauthor.com
- https://www.instagram.com/scottsollersauthor
- https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559791507282
From Me:
This book is a sweet story. I love Ellie's grit. She turns down doing things with her friends so she can keep practicing her ballet. She practiced and practiced but kept falling, sliding, and failing. She felt like she never would be the ballerina she wanted to be. Her parents give her a pair of shoes that they say are her grandmother's magic shoes and they will help her stop making mistakes. Ellie believes them and immediately starts dancing better without the mistakes. When Ellie loses her shoes, her parents finally tell her the truth. They were not magic shoes. All of the dancing came from Ellie herself. Her parents had told her that to help her grow her self-confidence and not put so much pressure on herself.
This book has such a wonderful message. Ellie has the perseverance but questions her own ability. Her parents tell her a little white lie to help her gain her confidence. With this trick, Ellie lives her dream. When the white lie falls apart, her parents are truthful with Ellie and let her know they lied for her sake. Ellie realizes that she is a great dancer, and it doesn't matter what shoes she wears. With hard work and confidence, we can all achieve goals. The message is clear and told so wonderfully. The illustrations are fun and well done. The book is perfect for any young girl pursuing dance and really any child pursuing a goal. It is the perfect book to share with a child when they are lacking their own confidence. I hope you will check it out.
Giveaway:
Enter for a chance to win a hardcover copy of Ellie’s Dancing Shoes. Good luck!
