Ladybird Book: Ballet 1969

There is something very lovely about finding a favourite childhood book again. Turning the pages and turning back time just for a moment.

The other day I found a box of Ladybird books in a charity shop. Most of them were modern(ish), but I found four old ones – and all for 50p each. I definitely had this one when I was a child – I was ballet mad for while until I realised that there was no way I’d ever be good enough! This was first published in 1969 – series 662 – by Ian Woodward and illustrations by Martin Aitchison.

The book begins with a brief history of ballet and moves on to ballet language, mime, costumes, makeup, what to expect as a ballet student, etc. This spread is about dancing sur les pointes and how to look after and prepare ballet shoes.

Ballet shoes

The endpapers show some ballet steps and movements.

Endpapers

There are fourteen pages of ballet synopses at the end.

Ballet synopses

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Tales from the Ballet

Selected and adapted by Louis Untermeyer.
With wonderful illustrations by Alice and Martin Provensen. Published in 1969 by the Hamlyn Publishing Group.

The title page illustration is your ticket to the ballet. The contents page is the Children’s Matinée Programme. The introduction to ballet is The Overture. It covers twenty ballets ranging from classics like Swan Lake to Fancy Free and Billy the Kid. There are production notes at the end for readers who want to know more.

Cover: Tales from the Ballet

The dancers waiting in the wings

Swan Lake

The Firebird