The Bear Who Wanted to Dance

Illustrated by Wendy J. Warren
A stunningly illustrated, lyrical story about hard work, determination, body positivity, and representation.

Rita the bear has always wanted to be a ballerina. She begins taking ballet classes with Monsieur le Fox and practices every chance she gets. Her best friend, Wanda, dances with her, and together, they push each other to be the best they can be.

When Monsieur le Fox announces that he's holding auditions for the studio's prima ballerina, Rita decides that she wants the part. But how can she be the prima ballerina when she doesn't look like the other ballet dancers in her class?

A stunningly illustrated, uplifting celebration of hard work, determination, body positivity, and representation.
Stephanie Stansbie has been a children’s book editor and author for most of her adult life. She adores editing and writing in equal measure, and the books she has written have been translated into more than 15 different languages. View titles by Stephanie Stansbie
Wendy J. Warren's colorful illustrations are inspired by the people, quirky architecture, and natural landscape around her, infusing her work with a vibrant and whimsical quality that captures the imagination. She draws by hand, experimenting with watercolor pencil and crayon. View titles by Wendy J. Warren
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo

About

A stunningly illustrated, lyrical story about hard work, determination, body positivity, and representation.

Rita the bear has always wanted to be a ballerina. She begins taking ballet classes with Monsieur le Fox and practices every chance she gets. Her best friend, Wanda, dances with her, and together, they push each other to be the best they can be.

When Monsieur le Fox announces that he's holding auditions for the studio's prima ballerina, Rita decides that she wants the part. But how can she be the prima ballerina when she doesn't look like the other ballet dancers in her class?

A stunningly illustrated, uplifting celebration of hard work, determination, body positivity, and representation.

Author

Stephanie Stansbie has been a children’s book editor and author for most of her adult life. She adores editing and writing in equal measure, and the books she has written have been translated into more than 15 different languages. View titles by Stephanie Stansbie
Wendy J. Warren's colorful illustrations are inspired by the people, quirky architecture, and natural landscape around her, infusing her work with a vibrant and whimsical quality that captures the imagination. She draws by hand, experimenting with watercolor pencil and crayon. View titles by Wendy J. Warren

Photos

additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo

Reading with Purpose Summit Event

On Monday, June 10th, Penguin Random House Education and DK Learning co-hosted a Reading with Purpose Summit Event in collaboration with Molly Ness, PhD. The event took place at Penguin Random House’s NYC headquarters and included sessions featuring leading education experts and a lunchtime author panel. The in-person professional learning event was built to show

Read more

2024 Elementary School Collection

The Penguin Random House Education Elementary School Collection features outstanding fiction, nonfiction, and picture books from Penguin Young Reader’s, Random House Children’s, DK, and Grupo Editorial, as well as children’s publishers distributed by Penguin Random House. Explore online or download this valuable resource to discover great books in specific topic areas such as: Leveled Readers,

Read more

DK Learning Phonic Books Sampler Request

Thank you for your interest in DK Learning | Phonic Books. To download the DK Learning | Phonic Books sampler with four complete readers, please click here and complete the form. Once your information is successfully submitted, a link to download the sampler will be provided on the confirmation screen.   Click here to learn

Read more

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

Translanguaging is a communicative practice of bilinguals and multilinguals, that is, it is a practice whereby bilinguals and multilinguals use their entire linguistic repertoire to communicate and make meaning (García, 2009; García, Ibarra Johnson, & Seltzer, 2017)   It is through that lens that we have partnered with teacher educators and bilingual education experts, Drs.

Read more