Author and Illustrator: Amy Young
Publisher: Viking, New York, 2005
ISBN: 0-670-03693-5
Genre: Fiction
Reading Level: K-3
Summary: When Belinda's Magnificently large ballet shoes get lost en route to Paris, she must find another pair before her performance in the Paris Opera.
Tags: foot, size, ballet dancers, shoes, paris, france
Awards and Reviews: School Library Journal 04/01/05, Booklist 01/01/05, Horn Book 10/01/05, Kirkus Review 01/15/05
Extensions: The subject of Belinda in Paris deals with the topic of losing a special item and how the community comes together to solve the problem. After reading the book to the students, gather them at tables and provide paper and crayons. Encourage students to recall how important Belinda's shoes were to her. Have them think of a special item of their own that they would hate to lose. Ask students why they chose that particular item and encourage group conversation. Assess on participation and ability to grasp the concept.
GPS ELA1R6: The student uses a variety of strategies to understand and gain meaning from grade-level text. The student f. Makes connections between texts and/or personal experiences.
Terri's Review: 3 Bean & Cheese Nachos (out of 5) Belinda the famous ballerina has arrived for a performance in Paris, but her shoes were lost by the airline. She scrambles to replace them for her evening performance at the Paris Opera, but not just any pointe shoes will do: Belinda has lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnng feet. Through a series of run-ins with locals she is finally able to get new shoes made for the performance (hilariously using a baguette from the baker as a form for the shoes). Cute, whimsical illustrations, little girls will especially love, ballet dancers or not. Fans of Belinda will enjoy Young's three other titles about our same heroine.
