Bella Ballerina by Sharon M. Draper is a sweet and inspiring picture book about a shy little girl who loves to dance. Bella enjoys ballet class. She listens to the music and tries her best to point her toes, twirl, and jump. When her teacher says there will be a recital, Bella wants to do well. But when she practices a big jump, she almost falls—until a friend helps her. Bella starts to feel unsure. Maybe she’s not ready to perform. On recital day, when the curtain opens, Bella gets scared and doesn’t move. Can she be brave enough to dance? This story shows that it’s okay to be nervous—and that with friends and courage, we can do amazing things.