Angelina Tumbelrina? Wait A Sec...

On this gorgeous afternoon in April, I was really craving a little Angelina Ballerina action. Finally - the sun is out, birds are chirping, and tulips are gracing us with their presence. My favorite bit is how colorful everything looks, such a welcome change from the flat, gray tones that unfortunately accompany New England winters. This is exactly how it feels reading the Angelina Ballerina series (written by Katharine Holabird and illustrated by Helen Craig). The stories are lovely, the characters are charming, and the illustrations are detailed and bursting with color. It's a quintessential spring day in a book. Just as beautiful and light as can be.

If you can't already tell, Angelina is an avid dancer. She is delicate, graceful, and always seems to be twirling from place to place. Just as adorable as Angelina is her sweet friend Alice, whom we meet for the first time in Angelina and Alice. Angelina and Alice enjoy the same pursuits - dancing and gymnastics - and become fast friends in the schoolyard. These two mice get along famously as they hang from trapeze bars and swing sky-high in the air. When it comes to handstands, however, things get a bit, well, shaky. Alice's is perfect and "Angelina Ballerina" becomes "Angelina Tumbelrina". So not fair.

How Angelina and Alice regain their friendship is a truly special part of the story, culminating in a spectacle of a happy ending. It's amazing what can be achieved with a little bit of teamwork and a lot of heart. You won't know what to love more - the precious story or the enchanting illustrations. They are simply made for each other and I can't imagine one piece without the other - the mark of an outstanding children's book.