Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret by Bob Shea

Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret by Bob Shea. Disney-Hyperion, 2015. 56 pages.

Reading Level: Easy Reader, ages 4-8

Recommended for: Ages 4-8

Shea, creator of the Dinosaur vs. Book series and Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great, “gets” kids. His books are universal kid pleasers, and this new easy reader series is sure to find loyal fans. Vibrant colors, bold lines, and simple text elevate the standard easy reader plot of best-friends-who-must-work-through-a-difference, giving it a fresh splash.

Ballet Cat and Sparkles the Pony are best friends. Ballet Cat, as you may imagine, loves ballet: swirling, dancing, leaping. Sure that everyone shares her enthusiasm, she urges—no, demands—that Sparkles join in, refusing to play anything that doesn’t allow ballet-related moves (i.e. checkers). When Sparkles reacts glumly, Ballet Cat knows he’s harboring a secret; ballerinas can tell these things. Sparkles is harboring a secret: a secret secret. Not to be outdone, Ballet Cat is also harboring a secret. In a twist reminiscent of Willems’ Elephant and Piggie books, all is well at the end. New readers will enjoy both the silliness and the reminder that real friends make sacrifices for each other in this cute new series.

Cautions: none

Overall Rating: 4 (out of 5)

• Artistic Rating: 4
• Worldview Rating: 4

Categories: Easy Readers, Character Values
Cover image from Amazon; free review copy via netgalley in return for a fair review