BEA Y EL BALLET

(Diana plays ballet)

Written and illustrated by Luciano Lozano
Tres tigres tristes Ed, Spain
November 2021



“People ask me why I have chosen to be a dancer.” I didn’t chose it. I was chosen to be a dancer, and a dancer is a dancer forever.”
Diana

Diana introduces us to the magical world of ballet. 

Accompany Diana in her day to day: school, homework and... ballet classes. You will discover how and when ballet was born, the most famous plays, the five positions, movements and endless curiosities. This is a book for every ballet lover and, of course, any fan of Diana.



Reviews:


“Diana’s story will resonate with both children and adults as subtle themes and expressive artwork explore the power of self-esteem, individuality, and the benefits of kinesthetic learning and differentiated education in the classroom.”
—Foreword Reviews, 03/19


“The illustrations—mostly double-page spreads with lots of emotion and movement—are exceptionally good. Diana is a captivating character who immediately engages readers.”
—CM Reviews, 12/07/18


“Dreams may or may not come true, but the opportunity to have them is wonderful.”
—Kirkus Reviews, 12/05/18




“There is so much emotion conveyed in the loose line work of Lozano’s drawings, making the cartoon style instantly relatable. Seeing Diana progress from worried to elated is joyous, and will give hope to anyone facing similar struggles with rigid format.”
—CBC News, 02/20/19












“This tribute to a kinetic learner will reassure kids facing the same issue, and the wonderful ink on silkscreen illustrations . . . add sweet humor. The gentle demolishing of stereotypes—not everyone learns the same, not all ballerinas are tall and willowy—is an added benefit.”
—Booklist, 01/01/19


“Spare yet spirited matte illustrations by Lozano create a winning aesthetic . . . Images of the plucky heroine, sporting oversize eyeglasses and displaying an array of facial expressions and stances, bolster the book’s humor.”
—Publishers Weekly, 01/28/19


“This book fills an important niche in a school library collection as a mirror for students whose learning style doesn’t match the traditional school setting.”
—School Library Connection, 05/19


“For libraries, this would be great for storytime sessions tied to music and movement, and you’ll get the bonus of positive body image and the introduction of different learning styles, which is good for both your early learners to see and their parents/caregivers.”
—B.A. Wilson Writes, 02/06/19



“[Lozano] touches on themes of self-worth, body image and the freedom to dream. The illustrations are very noteworthy and enrich the text greatly.”
—Storywraps, 01/03/19


“Empowering kids to overcome their difficulties in school by exploring some non-traditional activities is a nice thing to see in a picture book.”
—The Ladybug Reads, 01/09/19


“This is an amazing story about the power of movement in educational endeavors . . . This book will land well with a lot of young readers and their teachers.”
—Kiss the Book Jr, 12/12/18


“The illustrations promote body-positivity without drawing much attention to the physical differences between Diana and the ballerinas she envisions dancing with. Diana Dances is a beautiful story that reminds parents and educators that all kids learn differently–it’s just a matter of taking the time to find what works for each individual child and providing a learning environment that celebrates and fosters diversity.”
—Kids Make Mess, 03/09/19


©Luciano Lozano