Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
3.5 stars
An engaging read with sweet themes of confidence and not being afraid to be different.
Sassy dreams of dancing on stage, but she’s taller than all the other girls in her ballet class and none of the boys can lift her. She feels different because of her height, long legs, and big feet. But once she sees her differences as her strengths, she’s able to gain the confidence to truly perform.
A nice story with some tender moments. I love that Sassy was able to talk about what was going on and how her uncle showed her why being different isn’t a bad thing.
Includes themes of teasing, bullying, and self-confidence.
A bit lengthy so I’d say it’s best of older kids.
There is also quite a big of name-calling, both in terms of siblings teasing each other and classmates bullying. The characters are at times pretty mean to each other. Sassy doesn’t generally start it, but she isn’t afraid to dish it right back. May warrant a conversation about the difference between light-hearted teasing and mean-spirited comments.
Lovely artwork with great movement that really made the dance elements shine.
A good read overall that encourages readers to embrace what makes them different.