Dancing in the wings - Debbie Allen

Sassy tries out for a summer dance festival in Washington, D.

, despite the other girls' taunts that she is much too tall.

Full-color illustrations.

Sassy worries that her too-large feet, too-long legs, and even her big mouth will keep her from her dream of becoming a star ballerina.

So for now she's just dancing in the wings, watching from behind the curtain, and hoping that one day it will be her turn to shimmer in the spotlight.

When the director of an important dance festival comes to audition her class, Sassy's first attempts to get his attention are, well, a little wobbly.

But Sassy just knows, somehow, that this is her time to step out from those wings, and make her mark on the world.

Actress/choreographer Debbie Allen and Kadir Nelson collaborated on Brothers of the Knight , about which School Library Journal raved, the strutting high-stepping brothers are full of individuality, attitude, and movement.