Emily and the Ostriches

Pirouetting into a blizzard and finding herself in a strange world populated only by ostriches, Emily must win the creatures over despite her lack of a beak and long neck and eventually lands a role at the New York City Ballet.

Gr 2-4--Emily is a ballerina who just can't stop dancing. One day during a blizzard, she dances outside and gets lost, ending up in Ostrichville, a fantasyland filled with neon-colored talking birds. At first the critters do not take kindly to the little girl, but they are won over by her talent. This little Dorothy gets home from her Oz when a choreographer from the Big Apple Ballet invites her to New York City to perform. This is a rambling, disjointed fantasy that, unlike its heroine, never takes off. The full-colored paintings are done in a surreal, highly stylized manner. They do nothing to enhance the text. There are far better titles about little girls who love to dance, such as the "Tanya" books (Philomel) by Patricia Lee Gauch. Pass on this one.

Kay McPherson, Central Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, GA

Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc.