The ballet...thrilling stories set to music and told through the beauty of dance. Jane Rosenberg brings her love of the ballet, and both her writing and illustrating talents to Dance Me A Story, a marvelous collection, presented as a fascinating introduction for young and old alike. Listen to the intriguing and magical stories of Cinderella, Coppelia, Don Quixote, La Fille Mal Gardee, Firebird, Giselle, The Nutcracker, Petrouchka, Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and La Sylphide. Each narrative is written in an engaging and easy to read style. The scenes are set, the action well described, and the stories easily understood. Ms Rosenberg's exquisite and detailed artwork brings the drama and grace of each dance to life on the page, and together word and art capture the imagination and send it soaring. Perfect for youngsters 10 and older, or as a read aloud for younger children, Dance Me A Story opens the door to the enchanting world of the ballet, that is sure to whet the appetite and send you on your way to the grandeur of a live performance. The orchestra tunes, the audience is seated, a hush falls over the house as the conductor raises his baton, the curtain opens, and the performance begins in all its splendor...

Dance Me a Story is a fabulous book for any dance teacher to have. It features twelve tales from the classic ballets including, Cinderella, Coppelia, Don Quixote, La Fille Mal Gardee, Firebird, Giselle, The Nutcracer, Petrouchka, Romeo and Juliet, The sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and La Sylphide. The book provides information about the music and choreograpers of these ballets and it is a fun and informative way to teach children and young adults a little bit about the history of the classical ballet.

The orchestra tunes, the audience is seated, a hush falls over the house as the the conductor raises his baton, the curtain opens, and the performance begins in all its splendor. The opera, a magnificent feast for the eyes and ears. Jane Rosenberg brings her writing and illustrating talents, her passion and love of opera to this marvelous collection. Hear the intriguing stories of Aida, La Boheme, Die Fledermaus, The Magic Flute, Pagliacci, The Tales of Hoffman, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Carmen, The Barber of Seville, The Daughter of the Regiment, L'Enfant et les Sortileges, Hansel and Gretel, Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg, The Love for Three Oranges, and Porgy and Bess. Each narrative is written in an easy to read and engaging style, and is full of history, mystery, drama, humor, and adventure. The scenes are painstakingly set, the action thrilling and well described, and the dialogue eloquent and easily understood. Ms Rosenberg's elegant and exquisite illustrations are rich in detail, capture the imagination, and send it soaring, and youngsters will visualize and appreciate the grandeur of the sets, scenery, and costumes. Together word and art bring each story to life in an original and fascinating way. Perfect for youngsters 10 and older, or as a read aloud for younger children, Sing Me A Story is a superb introduction to the magical world of opera that is sure to whet the appetite, and peak the interest of young and old alike.

This charming book tells the stories behind 15 operas. Classic and modern, familiar and lesser known. It covers all the bases, as does the Metropolitan Opera in NY with their seasons, which can include everything from Porgy and Bess to Turnadot. The book gives the stories behind Aida, Amahl and the Night Visitors, The Barber of Seville, La Boheme, Carmen, The Daughter of the Regiment, L'Enfant et les Sortileges, Die Fledermaus, Hansel and Gretel, The Love For Three Oranges, The Magic Flute, Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg, Pagliacci, Porgy and Bess, and The Tales of Hoffman. The synopses break the stories down, act by act, taking quotes-translated in English-from the songs to illustrate the stories more vividly. The illustrations also provide an incredible visual for the reader. I had these read to me, and when I was able to read when I was around two, read them myself, and got such a better understanding of operas. It was much more easier to follow the plots, and also makes for quite enjoyable leisure reading. I still read the book to this day, it's not dumbed down, it withstands the test of time in my library.