LILI ON STAGE
by Rachel Isadora & edited by Rachel Isadora
A delightful encore performance for the charming heroine of Lili at Ballet (1993), in which Isadora once again conveys a love of dance and a genuine familiarity with the myriad details of practice and performance. Lili will capture the dreams of countless young balletomanes as she arrives at the theater to prepare for her debut as a party guest in The Nutcracker (a summary of which Isadora provides in an author's note). The backstage secrets and practical instructions will captivate readers: ``No speaking on stage. Never count the beats out loud. Don't scratch your nose. The audience sees everything.'' For the performance, Lili and a multiracial group of young dancers warm up, apply makeup and costumes, wait for cues, perform, receive applause, and enjoy the ballet themselves from their unique vantage point. Throughout, Isadora adds her signature soft pencil sketches washed in pastel- toned watercolors. The atmosphere crackles and the book delivers as much enchantment as the ballet itself. (Picture book. 4-8)