Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Ella Sets the Stage
Picture Book Series
For ages 4 to 6
Scholastic, 2006 ISBN: 978-0439831529
Miss Bell has told Ella's class that in just two weeks their school is going to host a talent show. Most of the elephant children in Ella?s class love the idea. Her friend Tiki is going to put on a magic show and Belinda plans on doing a ballet performance. Shy little Ella is not sure what she will do for this show. After all she is not sure if she has "a special natural ability."
Ella then sets about trying to figure out this puzzling problem. She quickly discovers that drumming, juggling, and singing are not talents that she possesses. While she tries to figure out what to do for the show Ella decides to help Frank with the talent show committee. Soon Ella is painting signs, making awards, organizing, and helping to put together a program.
On the day of the talent show Ella continues to help her friends in all kinds of ways. As the applause fills the auditorium for the ballet dancers, the magicians, the singers, and the puppeteers, the performers come to appreciate that without Ella?s hard work, the talent show would not have been the success it is. It would appear that Ella has a lot more talents than she realizes.
Little children who think that they have nothing to offer will find this charming picture book very comforting. They will come to see that, like Ella, they have plenty of talents. All they have to do is to look in the right places to find them. Lovely warm colored pencil illustrations perfectly compliment this delightful and meaningful little story.
