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Cover of Ballet with Balloonie by Mimi Maple Ages 2–6

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Children’s book · Dance

Ballet with Balloonie

Twirl, sparkle and dance along with Balloonie.

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  • FormatPaperback
  • AgesAges 2–6
  • ISBN9798196716850
  • ThemesDancing your own way · Individuality and confidence · Practice and perseverance
  • IllustrationsWritten and illustrated by Mimi Maple

Scroll down to learn Balloonie’s Balloonett and earn the dancer stamp for your story passport.

The story

Today, Azalea is the teacher and Balloonie is her pupil.

A playful dance-themed story that turns first ballet words into moves any little dancer can try, and gently reminds every child that there is no wrong way to dance.

A playful dance-themed story starring Balloonie, bringing movement and imagination together for young readers — and a reminder that there is no wrong way to dance.About the book

“Remember, dancers… practice makes perfect!” says Miss Lisa. But how do you practise at home? Azalea knows exactly who can help: today she will be the teacher, and Balloonie will be her pupil. But a plié comes out as a BOING-É, a tendu turns into a SWOOSH-DU… Can a bouncy balloon ever learn ballet, or will she invent something even better?

Try the moves yourself ↓ Meet Miss Lisa and the gang
For every little dancer who dreams, twirls, creates, and dances in their own beautiful way. May you always believe in yourself, have fun, and never stop dancing your own special dance. You are amazing — just as you are!The dedication · Ballet with Balloonie
Whoooooosh! Balloonie stretches sideways and invents the SWOOSH-DU while Azalea claps Every picture drawn by hand ✎
Mimi Maple

From the author

A little note from Azalea’s Mummy

Azalea began dancing when she was just 19 months old. From the very beginning, Miss Lisa never saw age as a hurdle. She welcomed Azalea, along with hundreds of other little dancers, into a world filled with music, confidence, kindness and grace. Week after week, we watched tiny footsteps grow into beautiful ballet moves, and shy little children grow into confident young dancers. Ballet with Balloonie was inspired by that journey. Just like Balloonie, every child dances in their own special way. Some children twirl differently, learn differently, move differently or grow in confidence at different times — and that is something beautiful.

Mimi Maple

Look inside

Turn the pages of Balloonie’s ballet class.

Tap the page to turn it, use the arrows or swipe. Press ⤢ to see any page full size. This preview has 6 pages: the dedication and the opening spreads, then a little cliffhanger. The whole story is in the book.

Jump to a page

Opening pages and the bonus pages at the back.

Tap any thumbnail to open it in the viewer, then use the arrows or swipe to keep browsing.

Meet the friends in this book

Azalea, Balloonie and Miss Lisa.

Tap a friend to learn their story, their favourite things and one little secret.

Meet everyone in the world of Mimi Maple

Words to remember

Little lines to keep in your pocket.

Three favourite lines from the book. Tap Read aloud to hear them, then try saying them together.

After the story

Discuss this after reading the story

Seven gentle questions for the end of the book, at home, at nursery or in class. Read them aloud, or copy them straight into your planning.

    For grown-ups & teachers

    Take the questions with you

    Let the website read the questions one by one while everyone listens, or copy them to paste into a lesson plan or a bedtime chat.

    The same questions are printed on the free activity sheet further down, next to the Can You Copy Balloonie? tick-off page. More discussion guides →

    Playroom · from this book

    Learn Balloonie’s Balloonett

    Plié becomes a BOING-É, tendu becomes a SWOOSH-DU, relevé becomes a FLOAT-EVÉ and arabesque becomes a TWIRL-ESQUE. Tap a move to watch Balloonie try it, hear its name and learn the ballet word it comes from. Try all four to earn your dancer stamp.

    Choose a move

    Ready, dancers?Tap a move and Balloonie will show you how it goes.
    0 of 4 moves tried

    Routine builder

    Build your own Balloonett routine

    Tap moves to add up to six steps, then press Dance it! and Balloonie will perform your routine one move at a time. Tap a step to remove it.

      No steps yet. Add your first move above.

      Try this at home

      Three little activities inspired by the book.

      Simple ideas for after the last page: no special equipment, just a little space to move and something to draw with.

      Free printables

      Print the Ballet with Balloonie activity sheet.

      Free to download for home and classroom use. Preview it first, or download the PDF straight away.

      Ready to dance?

      Take Ballet with Balloonie home.

      Buy the paperback direct from Mimi (a little cheaper than Amazon and posted by Mimi; nothing is charged on the website until Mimi sends a payment link), read the digital edition online, or buy on Amazon. Prefer to browse in person? Selected Mimi Maple books are stocked at The Dance House Academy shop in Clacton-on-Sea.