Young Reading: Step lively to these rhythmic stories

Hannah: Years ago when I danced at the Academy of Dance Arts near my elementary school, I had to be a waitress at the recital. I served up awkward plies and unsteady turns. The only reason I didn't give up was the sensation of being on stage each year at the recital.

Monica: Every mother loves to see her child perform! And what seemed self-conscious to you, Hannah, was precious to those of us watching.

Dance arts, celebrated in local schools and studios, prompt a look at these books, perfect for preparation for spring's recital season.

MY DANCE RECITAL. By Maryann Cocca-Leffler. Random House. Ages 4-8. $11.99.

We love pop-ups, so this little book full of pop-up treats, lift-the-flap surprises, spinning ballerinas and real tulle tutus delights us. This interactive book is as cute as it is clever, an ideal way to prepare any young dancer for what happens at a recital. To quote the last lift-the-flap, "Bravo!"

THE GIRL WHO WANTED TO DANCE. By Amy Ehrlich. Candlewick. Ages 7-10. $17.99.

Motherless Clara learns from her grandmother's stories that her mother loved dancing and music. Clara equates dancing with her mother's love and begins to dance whenever and wherever she can. The descriptions of Clara's love of dance are vivid: "Clara jumped about, leaping and spinning until she felt like a bird herself, free and weightless in the violet air."

A troupe of dancers visits Clara's village soon after the death of her beloved grandmother. Clara sneaks out to visit the dancers, requesting that they teach her the magic patterns their feet make. The dancers shoo her back to her home as the sun rises. Clara wants to stay and dance, despite the displeasure this will bring her father.

The ending to this mysterious story may be troublesome to some children as readers struggle to understand how a mother could choose a love of dance over her child. However, the story is a beautifully written and illustrated tale of the captivation of dance.

THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES. By John Cech. Sterling. Ages 7-10. $14.95.

This classic Brothers Grimm fable is retold by John Cech, an English professor at the University of Florida. In this tale, 12 princesses perplex their father and courtiers when each morning their slippers are worn-out and threadbare. The exhausted princesses are cursed but unable to confess their problem.

Many try to solve the puzzle, but none are successful until a handsome soldier arrives. He, of course, possesses an invisibility cloak given to him by a mysterious hag in the forest. As in all good fairy tales, a happily ever-after ending punctuates a story full of grand drama, mystery and beauty.

MAO'S LAST DANCER. By Li Cunxin. Walker. Ages 12 and up. 304 pages. $16.95.

Don't miss this incredible memoir of Li Cunxin, born a Chinese peasant, selected for an education in Chinese ballet by his communist government and later a star with the Houston Ballet. His story includes defecting from his native country with the help of powerful allies, including Barbara and George H.W. Bush, then the vice president. This is a treat for dance lovers and those who enjoy captivating stories.

In the 13th chapter, Cunxin shares wise counsel from his instructor that inspired him to greatness. Teacher Xiao told the young dancer, "Nothing is impossible for a determined human being. Physical imperfections are easier to overcome than mental deficiencies."

Without the tenets of communism, Cunxin never would have been plucked from his provincial village and given an education in Beijing. However, his exposure to America through a partnership with the Houston Ballet showed Cunxin how warped communism and its propaganda are.

Cunxin's defection caused an international incident and is the cause for breathless page-turning. This is an excellent book not only during recital season but all year long.

DANCING TO FREEDOM. The True Story of Mao's Last Dancer. By Li Cunxin. Walker. Ages 7-10. $16.95.

The picture book version of Li Cunxin's autobiography depicts a young boy growing up in a very poor Chinese village. With seven sons, the Li family is crammed into a small house, sharing two beds and few resources.

Despite the poverty, there is much love within the family. When Li Cunxin is selected to become a dancer for the political good of his country, he moves to Beijing at the age of 11. His days at the Dance Academy are lonely, but Cunxin wants to succeed for the good of his family.

Rigorous practice propels Cunxin into the international ballet spotlight, far from his village of Qingdao.