Mayhew’s pint-sized ballerina returns to explore another famous ballet (Ella Bella Ballerina and The Sleeping Beauty, 2008). When Ella misplaces a ballet slipper prior to class, she borrows a pair from Madame Rosa. Inspired by a combination of Madame’s retelling of Cinderella’s tale and the mesmerizing melodies of Madame’s unique music box, Ella lingers after class concludes to continue dancing. With the arrival of Cinderella’s fairy godmother, Ella soon finds herself instrumental in achieving Cinderella’s happy ending. The author’s rendition includes elements from Prokofiev’s ballet that fans of the animated cinematic version may not know, such as The Fairies of the Four Seasons and a pair of magic shoes rather than the iconic glass slippers. His elegant line drawings coupled with abundant application of colors ranging from delicate pastels to deeper, more vibrant hues deftly convey the ethereal quality of the tale. Readers will enjoy spotting the parallels between Ella’s and Cinderella’s tales. (Picture book. 4-8)
