Ready for the Spotlight!
Jaime Kim
Walker Books

The younger sibling and narrator of this story, Tessie, envies her older sister for always being in the spotlight at their ballet classes, despite the fact that Tessie has been learning for just a month. Tessie however believes in herself: she’s better than everyone save Maya. Maya danced the Lilac Fairy in last year’s performance of Sleeping Beauty, wore a crown and received three bouquets of flowers.

Mum reassures her younger daughter that with as much experience as Maya, she’ll shine just as bright. Nevertheless, Tessie wants to be the best now, and her jealousy grows. Then come auditions for the autumn show in which she dearly wants to wear that crown. When it’s time for the freestyle, Tessie’s favourite: in this she excels, saying “No rules. No pointed toes. Who needs lessons when you have rhythm?”

Surely this will be sufficient for her to get that lead role. But no, it’s Maya who will be the princess, Tessie and two others are to be bumblebees.

That night back at home. Tessie is angry with her sister, refusing to teach her freestyle dancing because, “You stole my crown.”

Sisterly love saves the day as Maya tells her sister, “You don’t need a crown to be a good dancer.”, and goes on to say that she too had started out as a bumblebee. From then on the sisters practise together, Maya teaching Tessie jumping and balancing, and Tessie teaching her sibling freestyle and grooviness. Come performance day, it turns out two can share the spotlight and receive armfuls of bouquets.

Throughout this tale of personal growth, jealousy and tender sibling bonds, it’s Tessie and her emotions that take centre stage in Jaime Kim’s splendidly expressive illustrations for her story, which is based on her own childhood experiences with ballet and her little sister.