Four disparate students plus one dance recital add up to a bundle of trouble in this collaborative effort from Evans and Numeroff. When dance enthusiast Emily meets her fellow classmates, she despairs of them ever performing together. A soccer player, a budding artist and a retiring bookworm, Nicole, Bitsy and Anna are equally perplexed by Emily’s fervent love of dancing. However, a visit to her favorite candy shop provides the inspiration Emily needs to foster an esprit de corps among the unlikely foursome. Using a bag of different flavored jelly beans as an analogy for the distinctly unique but complimentary talents each girl can contribute to the recital, Emily encourages the girls to work together. Munsinger’s cheerful pastel watercolors feature a cast of typically adorable characters, whose widespread interests holds appeal to a broad audience. This timely tale of forging connections despite seemingly insurmountable differences provides a light-hearted look at the power of cooperative action. (Picture book. 4-8)
