Ballet Lessons for Su

PreS-Gr 1–This series for beginning readers includes four very short, simple stories about a girl named Su. In three of the titles, she explores different interests: singing, playing in a two-person band, and doing ballet. In some of the titles, there is emphasis on values such as perseverance and problem solving. The strongest entry, Su Sees, veers from the theme of hobbies, following Su as she observes different animals in and around a tree; it has a bit of action and an ending that encourages readers to imagine what happens next. The series is appropriate for early readers, with three to six words on most pages. Unfortunately, there is not enough substance here to entice young readers. The digital illustrations lack originality, and the facial expressions of the characters are short on range.