THE RIBBON

A young ballet dancer grapples with stage fright in this sparsely worded picture book.

Though she’s practiced tirelessly, the tan-skinned, dark-haired ballerina freezes before a performance and hides among the ruffled costumes instead of joining the others onstage. An older, pale-skinned dancer hears a sniffle, discovers her trembling beneath a giant tulle skirt, and offers her the bright red ribbon from her own hair. With the ribbon tied into her bun, the younger one finds her bravery renewed. The ribbon becomes a cherished good-luck charm through years of performances, shown in a single spread that features a sequence of the child dancing as time passes. But when the ribbon is lost before an important show, she must step into the spotlight without it—realizing the bravery was actually inside her. Rendered in charcoal, ink, and watercolor, Blackham’s illustrations feel tactile and windswept, expressive enough to do the heavy lifting of storytelling with only a smattering of words across the entire book. A muted palette of gray, powder blue, and pale pink lets the vivid red ribbon pop from each spread, while layered echoes of pressed leaves give the story a handmade warmth and depth. Poignant repetition is used in both imagery and words to a calming, comforting effect.

A sweet, quiet ode to the courage within.