Dancing Shoes (The Shoe Books)

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Aunt Cora is determined to turn two orphans, perky Hilary and sullen Rachel, into members of her dance troupe. But Rachel wants to keep Hilary from being one of Wintle’s Little Wonders—is it selfishness or something else? Misunderstandings and a spoiled cousin come together for a tale full of high drama. Originally published in 1957.

Lexile Measure: 810 (What's this?)

Series: The Shoe Books

Paperback: 224 pages

Publisher: Yearling; Dgs edition (April 5, 1994)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0679854282

ISBN-13: 978-0679854289

Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.5 x 7.7 inches

Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #51,787 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #58 in Books > Children's Books > Arts, Music & Photography > Performing Arts > Dance #119 in Books > Children's Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Family Life > Orphans & Foster Homes #1072 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Chapter Books & Readers > Beginner Readers

Age Range: 8 - 12 years

Grade Level: 3 - 7

Do you remember when the Meg Ryan character walked into TomHanks' FOX BOOKS store and the customer asked about the"Shoes" books, and a monologue about the wonders of Noel Streatfeild's "Shoes" books ensued, touching on Dancing Shoes, Ballet Shoes, and Skating Shoes, which is absolutely wonderful? That scene made me break down crying, because I had never heard anyone other than myself talk about these terrific books, and the fact that it is tragic that they are mostly out of print and hard to find. This book is a wonderful story of working hard for a goal, and accomplishing it, or at least getting on the road to achieving a reasonable, yet magical, goal. If you want a great book for your favorite elementary school girl, buy this one - then buy the other "Shoes" books (and get a copy of Tennis Shoes for your favorite boy too!)

Ever felt misunderstood? Or that you did't fit in? Ever had great plans for another's future...that they didn't share? Dancing Shoes is a well-crafted classic, about three girls we can all relate to. Rachel hates dancing, and struggles to find herself in a dancing school. Her sister Hillary is all mirth, and no work. Dulce is their insufferable, spoiled cousin, who meets her deserved fate. An exasperated teacher, a homey nurse, and evil aunt, and a oblivious but gentle hearted uncle round out the cast. Superb all around, sensitively told. Buy it now!

Dancing Shoes is one of Noel Streatfield's most enchanting books. Rachel and Hilary, Pursey, Uncle Tom, Aunt Cora, Dulcie, Mrs. Storm, and the Little Wonders combine to create a delightful world. Loveable characters and a vivid plot, never saccharine; I read it over many times each year. Splendid for children and adults.

I've always adored books set in England ... and it started with the Noel Streatfeild books that I devoured as a child. Of all of the Shoes books -- and believe me, twenty years ago I read every single one I could get my hands on -- this is still the best.The two heroines are so likable and yet so different from each other; Rachel is introspective and quiet, Hilary is vivacious and fun-loving. What this means is that every little girl reading it can identify with one or the other. Streatfeild is at her best when it comes the book's character development. Rachel's reaction to her mother's death, and her changing relationship with her sister, are very well-drawn and utterly convincing.Best of all, this book has Dulcie -- the character you love to hate. And every single person gets her comeuppance in the end; the reader's desire for poetic justice is fufilled in a most suprising but totally convincing way. It's a wonderfully satisfying read, and the kind of book that you can read again and again ... even as an adult.

How can it be that a book about a dancing school in 1950s London would make such an impression on a klutzy American 12-year old in the late '70s and early '80s? A compelling story and appealing, cleancut prose have made "Dancing Shoes" a staple -- albeit dog-eared -- book in my library for more than 15 years. "Dancing Shoes" started my long "pas de deux" with Noel Streatfeild's "Shoes" series. Streatfeild describes the day-to-day lives of Rachel and Hilary -- two orphans who find unexpectedly themselves living in a stage-training school with their brusque, stage-mama Aunt Cora -- in such a way that the reader can feel the warmth of the footlights and the pinch of their tap shoes. The plight of untalented Rachel among the dancing troupe of Mrs. Wintle's Little Wonders was very true to life, and her triumph over her spoiled cousin at the end of the book gives hope to all little girls who aren't so light on their feet. This and other "Shoes" books will be passed on to my own daughters.

I received this book when I was about 8 years old. I took one look at it and thought, "I am NOT going to read this. It's a BABY book!" I never touched the book again until 3 years later, when I was 11 years old, and decided just to try out the book. OMG! Was I wrong! This was not a baby book! The story of Rachel and Hilary Lennox and their lovable (in a villainy way)conceited cousin, Dulcie Wintle, is a charming book that every one (and I mean EVERYONE) will love.Rachel and Hilary come to live with their Aunt Cora, who runs a dancing (ballet, acrobatics, musical comedy, etc.) school, when their mother dies. Aunt Cora is set on making them both "little wonders" but Rachel finds that she disdains it, having no talent for those types of things. Hilary, however, finds that she loves it, and has a real talent for it, too! But Rachel doesn't want Hilary to be a "little wonder," let alone love it! Hilary was going to go to the Royal Ballet School of Dancing before their mother died, and Rachel is set on making her go after her mother's last words for her were to make sure Hilary went on with her dancing.Misunderstandings will get in the way, as Hilary grows more and more with the "bad" type of dancing, becomes competition with Dulcie, and Rachel comes to find that dancing may not be her thing, but that doesn't mean that stage is not...

What great books Mr, Streatfeild created. Shows morals, manners , respect for others, as well as tell such interesting stories. My 13 year old granddaughter has been devouring them, and she does not enjoy reading. She sure became excited over these books.

Not her best, but happy to read her again as some of her books have been unavailable since I first loved them as a child. I am gifting them to my great nieces. I am VERY disappointed in the quality of the books themselves. I see no purpose in putting the cheapest paper in small print under the hard covers of a book. These will not hold up as the treasured books I was hoping to give.

Dancing Shoes (The Shoe Books) Shoes, Shoes, Shoes (Mulberry Books) Shoes, Shoes, Shoes: A Delightful Book of Imaginary Footwear for Coloring, Decorating, and Dreaming Swing Dancing: Put on Your Dancing Shoes and Get With Hip-Swinging, Toe-Tapping Swing Dancing My Favorite Shoes: A touch-and-feel shoe-stravaganza Whose Shoes?: A Shoe for Every Job Pointe Shoes for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know About Pointe Shoes Books for Kids: There's a Spider in my Shoes (Children's Book, Picture Books, Preschool Books, Baby Books, Kids Books, Ages 3-5) Shoe-dles Red, Blue, Yellow Shoe The Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike One, Two Buckle My Shoe (BBC Audio Crime) Shoe Dog Namasi, the shoe maker: How the Ndorobo are cleverer than the Masai (Volume 2) The Mermaid and the Shoe Salsa!...or "Everything Your Mother Never Told You About Salsa Dancing!" (The Little Book of Dancing) (Volume 1) Ballroom Dancing: Master The Art of Ballroom Dancing Ballroom Dancing: Proven Tips, Tools and Tactics To Ballroom Dancing The Robert Audy Method: Jazz Dancing: Teach yourself the combinations and routines while keeping in shape and learning some disco dancing at the same time!