I was planning to write a review of the unabridged audiobook edition of Noel Streatfeild's novel Ballet Shoes this afternoon, but I see that there's actually even more Ballet Shoes-related news worth sharing, so I'll keep it short: the audiobook edition, which is read by actress Elizabeth Sastre, is really nicely done. I'd forgotten how appealing Ballet Shoes is. It's more sophisticated than The Boxcar Children, or even A Little Princess, but it offers similar charms: a tidy, streamlined storyline, and a strong emphasis on money-earning and self-sufficiency. Any kid who likes stories about children working and achieving some financial independence is sure to enjoy it--it doesn't even matter that British money makes absolutely no sense.

Anyway, if you're not into the audiobook thing, Screenvision is planning a limited-engagement showing of the recent TV adaptation of Ballet Shoes on August 26th. According to the list of selected theaters, those of us who live in the Northwest appear to be out of luck, but the rest of the country can buy their tickets now.

Labels: Noel Streatfeild