Ballet Shoes for Anna

Having lost their parents in an earthquake, Anna and her siblings live with their prim uncle and feeble aunt. Anna lives only to dance – but her uncle forbids her to have anything to do with ballet. How will she survive?

For Anna, everything takes second place to her burning desire to dance. Even the earthquake that destroyed her Turkish home has not made her think differently, only now she's stuck in a prim suburban household with an uncle who "doesn't approve" of dancing.

What can Anna do? Not only is there no one to give her lessons, but there's no money for them either, and, anyway, dancing's forbidden. Will she ever become the ballerina she longs to be?

Reviews

“This book is a perfect, inspiring pick-me-up, especially to anyone with a dream. It is written with conviction and that classic old-time feel to take you to places you might never have known.” – Sunday Express

Praise for Noel Streatfeild:

“Noel Streatfeild’s position in the children’s book world is unique. She is endlessly inventive, full of verve and real understanding of the surfaces of childhood. Her stories are rich in documentary interest and entertainment, escapism of a most satisfying sort.”

TLS

“Noel Streatfeild is an author who is a true master of her craft.”

Illustrated London News

“Noel Streatfeild has that happy, skilful knack of turning her characters into real people – something which only really good novelists can do.”

BBC Children’s Hour

About the author

Noel Streatfeild grew up in a vicarage. Her father eventually became Bishop of Lewes. Noel trained as an actress, and acted for nine years before writing her first book, for adults. She did not write her first (and most famous) children’s book until 1936 – Ballet Shoes. Thereafter she wrote more than thirty other children’s books, some of which were televised, and all of which were hugely popular. Noel died in 1986.