(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Aleksey Ivanov & Olga Ivanov. Two more very beginning readers feature likable ballerina kitten Mia. In Stage, she finds that a hurt leg doesn't keep her from playing a special role in the big recital. In Twirl, new classmate Sara's eccentricity prompts a lesson that "there are many ways to dance." Mia's sparkle and verve, center-stage in the illustrations, will engage little ballerinas learning to read. Glos. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Mia and the Girl with a Twirl and Mia Sets the Stage.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Aleksey Ivanov & Olga Ivanov. Two more very beginning readers feature likable ballerina kitten Mia. In Stage, she finds that a hurt leg doesn't keep her from playing a special role in the big recital. In Twirl, new classmate Sara's eccentricity prompts a lesson that "there are many ways to dance." Mia's sparkle and verve, center-stage in the illustrations, will engage little ballerinas learning to read. Glos. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Mia and the Girl with a Twirl and Mia Sets the Stage.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Olga Ivanov & Aleksey Ivanov. Ballerina kitten Mia receives a nutcracker for Christmas. She doesn't understand the significance of the gift, so her grandfather relates the story of the famous ballet. Mia pictures her friends and family (and herself in the starring role, of course!) in the production as she listens. With warm, candy-hued illustrations and accessible (if prosaic) text, this is an agreeable introduction to The Nutcracker.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Aleksey Ivanov & Olga Ivanov. Ballerina kitten Mia begins taking jazz dance classes. She loves the new style but wishes that her plain black shoes were "as jazzy as dancing." With a little creativity and a lot of sparkles, Mia makes her shoes worthy of her exuberant new dance form. Brief sentences and repeated sight words make the slim story accessible. The pastel- and twirl-heavy illustrations add humor. Glos.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Aleskey Ivanov & Olga Ivanov. Mia the ballerina kitten is back in two easy-to-read stories: when a friend needs help practicing her solo, Mia comes to her rescue (Daisy); Mia's class sees her big sister Ava perform, but she feels left out when Ava doesn't watch her dance during a special teaching session afterward (Big Sister). Simple dance vocabulary and colorful, twirl-packed illustrations are equally pleasing. Glos. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Mia and the Big Sister Ballet and Mia and the Daisy Dance.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Aleksey Ivanov & Olga Ivanov. Dancing kitten Mia is back, this time teaching some beginning dancers the first three ballet positions. When the little ones have problems mastering the steps, Mia turns their mistakes into new moves. The simple story uses short sentences, while colorful illustrations add humor and reinforce the text. The title is misleading—the story isn't about toe shoes.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Aleksey Ivanov & Olga Ivanov. Mia the ballerina kitten is back in two easy-to-read stories: when a friend needs help practicing her solo, Mia comes to her rescue (Daisy); Mia's class sees her big sister Ava perform, but she feels left out when Ava doesn't watch her dance during a special teaching session afterward (Big Sister). Simple dance vocabulary and colorful, twirl-packed illustrations are equally pleasing. Glos. Review covers these I Can Read Book titles: Mia and the Big Sister Ballet and Mia and the Daisy Dance.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(3) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Aleksey Ivanov & Olga Ivanov. Dancing kitten Mia (Mia and the Too Big Tutu) stars in another ballet-themed story. When her dancing partner gets sick, Mia finds herself with two new partners and ends up in a ballet trio. Muted illustrations catch the movement of ballet and the expressions of dismay and happiness in the simple story. Glos.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman

(4) K-3 I Can Read Book series. Illustrated by Aleksey Ivanov & Olga Ivanov. Mia, a fetching kitten, wants to dance like her older sister. On her first day of ballet class she grabs sis's tutu by mistake and is tripped up, literally, by her "too big tutu"; she ultimately manages to land on her toes. The slim story features short, accessible sentences and appealing illustrations, if bad ballet class practice.

Reviewer: Amy Kellman