I loved this story for my lanky 7 year-old with her cute boat feet.  Belinda is a ballerina, and not just any ballerina, she is fabulous.  She auditions for the part of Cinderella in an upcoming performance and outperforms Lola in every way.

 

Lola points out that she has beautiful dainty feet like a ballerina should have and Belinda has HUGE feet, not at all like your typical ballerina.  She is outraged when Belinda gets the part and she doesn't.  My ~sniffle~ now 5 year-old recognized right away that Lola's behavior was undesirable.  She says, "mommy, she won't have any friends if she keeps acting like that."

 

When it comes time for the performance Lola locks Belinda in the closet, steals the Belinda-sized glass slippers and attempts to make them fit.  She shoves paper in the ends and tries to steal Belinda's part.

 

The Fairy Godmother finds Belinda and she comes out for the final ball scene where, of course the "glass" slipper fits her and not Lola.

 

I liked the way that this book took the fact of Belinda having large feet as desirable.  I'm not one of those moms who has problems with Barbie and Disney princesses and stereotypes, but there is something a little bit comforting about an imperfect heroine/main character. 

 

Cute illustrations in this fun read.  This is one of a series of Belinda books by author Amy Young.