Ella Bella Ballerina and A Midsummer Night's Dream, Paperback/James Mayhew

Here is the newest title in Barron’s delightful Ella Bella series! In this story, Ella’s kindly ballet teacher, Madame Rosa, has given the children costumes to wear as her magical music box pours out a shimmering tune. “This is A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Felix Mendelssohn,” she says, as she tells the children about the Shakespearean story that inspired Mendelssohn’s ballet. When Madame Rosa is through, she asks all of her little ballerinas to “dance like fairies!” When everyone else goes off to change, Ella stays behind for just one more fairy dance…and finds herself transported into the story of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. There, she meets Puck, the mischievous fairy, and Oberon, King of Fairyland. Oberon asks Puck to help him win back the heart of Titania, his fairy queen. Puck, in turn, enlists Ella to help him in his midsummer mischief.This charming story is beautifully illuminated by James Mayhew’s whimsical, lovely, and colorful illustrations. A brief passage at the back of the book tells the story of William Shakespeare’s beloved comedy. It also includes some interesting facts about Felix Mendelssohn and his sparkling, scurrying, enchanting music.