The Silver Slippers by Elizabeth Koda-Callan is about a little girl who wants to become the "prima ballerina". The problem is that she wasn't as good as the other girls in her class even though she practiced and went to class she never could perform as well as the others. One day the little girls ballet teacher announced to the class that there was going to be a ballet recital and she had to decide who was going to be the prima ballerina. The little girl decided that she wanted to be the prima ballerina. But she soon remembered that she wasn't as good as the rest. That afternoon the little girl went home and told her mother what had happened. The little girl was discouraged and though she wanted to do it, believed she couldn't. Her mother told her that she may have to practice harder than the other girls in class but if she really wanted to be the prima ballerina than she could. The next day the little girls mother gave her a necklace with silver slippers on it and told her that anytime she got discouraged to look at the necklace and remember how much she wanted to be the prima ballerina. So the little girl practiced really hard for the next few weeks. The day came when her ballet instructor had to choose who was going to be the start ballerina for the recital and the teacher chose the little girl. Soon the night of the recital came, the little girl was really nervous and began to have second thoughts about going on stage. But as soon as she looked down at her necklace and saw the silver slippers she found the courage to go on. She performed brilliantly and she as well as her mother were so very proud of what she had accomplished.
I think that this book could be very influential in the classroom. While it is geared towards more little girls than little boys the message is still very clear. I think that the book does a really good job of showing how nothing is unattainable if you just give a little bit of extra practice. I think that teachers could read this to their class and then talk about what each student wants to accomplish but feels they are not good enough too do it. Also anytime a student feels discouraged you can refer back to the book and explain that though it may be tough and harder for them to accomplish a task more so than other students it just takes time and practice and they too can accomplish it.
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When I was younger and taking dance lessons, I too read this book. I enjoyed all of stories from the shoe collection from Elizabeth Koda-Callan. I like the message that this story conveys, the main character overcomes her fear of the stage with the silver ballet slippers. She works so hard and with determination becomes the prima ballerina. I agree with Katie that the message is very clear but geared towards girls. Teachers could use this in a lesson where students must write on something they want to accomplish, some goal they think is unattainable.
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