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Books in Ella Bella Ballerina Series series

  • Ella Bella Ballerina and Cinderella

    James Mayhew

    Hardcover (B.E.S., Sept. 1, 2009)
    Ella Bella loves her ballet class, which is conducted by the kindly Madame Rosa at an old theatre that seems touched by magic. One day, when Ella loses one of her slippers, Madame Rosa lends her another pair for dancing--and is then reminded of Cinderella and her story of the lost slipper. Madame Rosa recounts the tale to her students, and Ella Bella listens with heightened interest. When their day's lesson has ended Ella lingers at the theatre, then opens Madame Rosa's music box and listens as it plays melodies from the Cinderella ballet. Suddenly, Cinderella's fairy godmother magically appears, and Ella Bella is transported into the beloved story of Cinderella. This delightful book's final page describes the ballet Cinderella, with music by the great Russian composer, Sergei Prokofiev.
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  • Ella Bella Ballerina and Swan lake

    James Mayhew

    Hardcover (B.E.S., May 1, 2011)
    This title in B.E.S. charming Ella Bella series tells another story of Ella Bella, a little girl who loves to dance. In this story, Ella's kindly ballet teacher Madame Rosa is preparing her class to dance in Tchaikovsky's immortal Swan Lake, and as Ella learns the story and listens to the music she is transported in a dream into Swan Lake's setting. There, she meets Odette, a beautiful princess who is transformed into a swan by an evil sorcerer. This beautiful volume's story is enhanced with James Mayhew's color illustrations. A brief passage at the back of the book recounts the life of Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and his creation of the music for this famous ballet.
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  • Ella Bella Ballerina and A Midsummer Night's Dream

    James Mayhew

    Hardcover (B.E.S., Sept. 1, 2015)
    Here is the newest title in B.E.S. delightful Ella Bella series! In this story, Ella's kindly ballet teacher, Madame Rosa, has given the children costumes to wear as her magical music box pours out a shimmering tune. "This is A Midsummer Night's Dream by Felix Mendelssohn," she says, as she tells the children about the Shakespearean story that inspired Mendelssohn's ballet. When Madame Rosa is through, she asks all of her little ballerinas to "dance like fairies!" When everyone else goes off to change, Ella stays behind for just one more fairy dance…and finds herself transported into the story of A Midsummer Night's Dream. There, she meets Puck, the mischievous fairy, and Oberon, King of Fairyland. Oberon asks Puck to help him win back the heart of Titania, his fairy queen. Puck, in turn, enlists Ella to help him in his midsummer mischief.This charming story is beautifully illuminated by James Mayhew's whimsical, lovely, and colorful illustrations. A brief passage at the back of the book tells the story of William Shakespeare's beloved comedy. It also includes some interesting facts about Felix Mendelssohn and his sparkling, scurrying, enchanting music.
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  • Ella Bella Ballerina and The Magic Toyshop

    James Mayhew

    Hardcover (B.E.S., Oct. 1, 2017)
    This title in B.E.S. charming Ella Bella series tells another story of Ella Bella, a little girl who loves to dance. In this story, Ella's ballet teacher, Miss Rosa, tells them the story of La Boutique Fantasque. The story takes place in a toyshop full of dancing dolls, she explains, as she shows them her own collection of dancing dolls and her magical music box. When Ella stays late to help clean up, she finds herself magically transported to a toyshop filled with magical dancing dolls! Ella is thrilled to meet all of the dancing dolls, but she is especially taken with two can-can dancing dolls that are in love. When two different families come to the shop and decide to each buy one of the dolls, the pair are distraught. Now Ella wonders... is there some way to keep them together forever? This charming tale is beautifully illuminated by James Mayhew's delightful illustrations. A page at the end of the book explains the story behind La Boutique Fantasque for young readers.
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  • Ella Bella Ballerina and The Sleeping Beauty

    James Mayhew

    Hardcover (B.E.S., Aug. 1, 2008)
    Little Ella Bella loves attending Madame Rosa's ballet class at the old theater. Most of all she loves the music that plays from Madame Rosa's special music box, the theme from The Sleeping Beauty ballet. One day, after ballet class has ended, Ella Bella is left alone with the music box on the theater stage. As its music begins playing, Ella is transported to the magical world where the Sleeping Beauty's story takes place. Entering the palace of Princess Aurora, the Sleeping Beauty, Ella meets all the story's characters--not only the good ones, but also the sinister bad fairy--and she sees the famous story unfold before her very eyes. Here is an unusually imaginative retelling of the classic fairy tale, with illustrations that capture the story's magic and mystery. A brief postscript on the book's final page summarizes the history of ballet from its origins during the Italian Renaissance to the late nineteenth-century, when the famous Russian composer Piotr Ilich Tchaikovsky wrote music for The Sleeping Beauty ballet.
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  • Ella Bella Ballerina and The Nutcracker

    James Mayhew

    Hardcover (B.E.S., Oct. 1, 2012)
    Christmas is coming, and Madame Rosa has prepared a surprise party for her ballet class. "Ella Bella, would you fetch the music box?" asks Madame Rosa. "Then we can have some dancing at our party." As the music begins playing, little Ella Bella is magically transported into the enchanting, festive world of The Nutcracker ballet. There, she meets the beautiful Clara and her wooden Nutcracker doll. Together, Ella and Clara must fight off the evil Mouse King so they can break the evil spell that has transformed a handsome prince into the Nutcracker doll. When the spell is broken and the prince comes to life, he leads Clara and Ella to a magic forest where they dance to the music of the famous Nutcracker ballet. On the last page of this beautifully illustrated story, young readers learn about the origins of The Nutcracker ballet, its music written in 1892 by the composer Piotr Tchaikovsky for Russia's famous Imperial Ballet.
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  • Ella Bella Ballerina and Cinderella

    James Mayhew

    Paperback (Orchard Books, Sept. 2, 2010)
    Can the adorable Ella Bella, ballerina help Cinderella get to the Royal Ball? Alone on the stage after class, Ella Bella opens Madame Rosa's magical musical box and is whisked off into the world of the Cinderella ballet. But will Ella Bella be able to help Cinderella meet her perfect Prince Charming?
    K
  • Ella Bella Ballerina and the Sleeping Beauty

    James Mayhew

    Paperback (Orchard Books, Oct. 2, 2008)
    Ella Bella longs to be a ballerina, and so each week she goes to Madame Rosa's ballet class at the old theatre. As soon as she opens Madame Rosa's musical box on the empty stage, she's whisked off in a lilac light to Sleeping Beauty's palace. Will she be able to help the Lilac Fairy save Sleeping Beauty from the bad fairy's wicked spell?
  • Ella Bella Ballerina and the Nutcracker

    James Mayhew

    Paperback (Orchard Books, Oct. 2, 2013)
    can Ella Bella help the Nutcracker to defeat his arch enemy, the wicked Mouse King? Join Ella Bella Ballerina as she twirls into the enchanting world of The Nutcracker ballet with its magical dancing snowflakes, tantalising swirling sweets and, of course, the beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy. James Mayhew's richly detailed storytelling and his exquisite, retro art-style make this book perfect for all would-be prima ballerinas. The final page is devoted to ballet facts, so children can learn about the original ballet The Nutcracker.
  • Ella Bella Ballerina Enchanted Gift Set: With Swan Lake & Cinderella

    James Mayhew

    Hardcover (B.E.S. Publishing, Oct. 1, 2013)
    Award-winning author James Mayhew captures the magic of Swan Lake and Cinderella through the eyes of a young ballerina in these imaginative retellings of the classic tales. Little Ella Bella loves attending Madame Rosa's ballet class at the old theater. Most of all she loves the music that plays from Madame Rosa's special music box. Whenever it plays, something magical is certain to happen!In Ella Bella Ballerina and Swan Lake, Ella is transported to the enchanting world of Tchaikovsky's immortal Swan Lake. There, she meets Odette, a beautiful princess who is transformed into a swan by an evil sorcerer. Ella and Odette work together to break the sorcerer's spell and unite Odette with her one true love.When Ella loses one of her slippers, the music box transports her to another magical realm. In Ella Bella Ballerina and Cinderella, the little ballerina meets Cinderella's fairy godmother and follows along as the beloved story plays out before her very eyes.At the end of each of these beautifully illustrated stories, young readers will learn about the origins of the featured ballet and the history of the composers who created the timeless music that we all know and love. The perfect holiday surprise for little lovers of dance.
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  • Ella Bella Ballerina and Swan Lake

    James Mayhew

    Paperback (Hachette Children's Group, May 10, 2011)
    Can Ella Bella help the swan princess to be reunited with her prince? Will she help to break the wicked sorcerer's spell? Will true love conquer all? Young ballerinas will find the answer to all these questions and delight in the sheer charm of Ella Bella's world.
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  • Ella Bella Ballerina Magic Gift Set: With The Nutcracker & Sleeping Beauty

    James Mayhew

    Hardcover (B.E.S. Publishing, June 1, 2013)
    Little ballerinas will love these imaginative retellings of The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. With illustrations that capture the magic of the stories, award-winning author James Mayhew weaves the classic tales through the eyes of a young ballerina. Little Ella Bella loves attending Madame Rosa's ballet class at the old theater. Most of all she loves the music that plays from Madame Rosa's special music box. Whenever it plays, something magical is certain to happen!In Ella Bella Ballerina and the Nutcracker, Ella is magically transported into the enchanting, festive world of The Nutcracker ballet. There, she meets the beautiful Clara and her wooden Nutcracker doll. Together, Ella and Clara must fight off the evil Mouse King so they can break the evil spell that has transformed a handsome prince into the Nutcracker doll.The music box transports little Ella Bella to another fairy tale realm in Ella Bella Ballerina and the Sleeping Beauty. Entering the palace of Princess Aurora, the Sleeping Beauty, Ella meets all the story's characters--not only the good ones, but also the sinister bad fairy--and she sees the famous story unfold before her very eyes.At the end of each of these beautifully illustrated stories, young readers will learn about the origins of the featured ballet and the history of the composers who created the timeless music that we all know and love. The perfect holiday surprise for little lovers of dance.
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