Ballet Shoes (BBC Children's Classics)

Wonderful story arrived on time and in excellent condition

I originally read this story when I was around eight and it's one of those childhood books that I have been meaning to get hold of again and add to my library and I am so glad that I did. They recently did a television adaption of the book which although brilliant just doesn't compare to the book. A timeless story that I have once again really enjoyed reading. The story is about the three Fossil sisters Pauline, Petrova and Posy and how they became to be sisters as they were adopted by their Great Uncle Matthew on his travels otherwise know as GUM. The name Fossil is one they picked themselves and they vow to get into the history books as the name is their very own and no one can say it's because of their ancestors. A really really charming and lovely book that took me back to reading under the duvet with my torch when I was meant to be asleep!

I recently read this to my twin ten year old daughters as the book was given to me as a child by my great aunt in the 1970's and I regret to say, I never read it. We all loved it. The language used, currency and education received by the 3 sisters needed some explanation to my daughters but they hung on every description of this bygone era. It seemed a less complicated time where children were closer to nature, camping and picnics were so much more fun and delicious and the moods and emotions of the 3 very unique sisters, still easy to relate to. We learned about Shakespeare plays and are now reading a children's version of A Mid Summer Night's Dream. My girls enjoyed the movie but the book far more so.

A lovely, lovely book. Funny, sad, informative - it's got the lot. And a mildly happy ending - one gets the feeling that the end is only the beginning. In fact the Fossil sister make an appearance in a later book of Noel Streatfeild's. I don't know how the training the girls received would stand up to today's stage schools - Pop Idol and X Factor it ain't, but it's a perennial favourite and I won't lend my battered copy to anybody, Now it's on my Kindle so I've got it for good. I read this book when I was 7, and again at 15, and 25, and 30 - and now that I'm 54 (+VAT) I'm reading it again. It's the kind of book you want to curl up with on a wet afternoon, or after a lousy day at work when everything has gone wrong. Pure escapism, and great fun. If you enjoyed it, try White Boots and Wintle's Wonders. Every bit as good.

Charming story from my childhood reading. The beautifully written story of young girls with ambitions and their lives still delights. Excellent seller.

Beautiful book. I bought this to read with my 6 year old daughter.

Having read Ballet Shoes as a child for more times than I could count I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who knows children between the ages of 9 and 14. It is really a book for girls of that age and I have been reading it taking turns with my grand-daughter - who has absolutely loved it to my great delight.

This was one of my favourite books when I was a child , but re-reading it many years later with a grandchild, I have decided that it is rather dated for today's child .It contains quite old fashioned vocabulary such as 'gramophone' and talks about old money such as shillings .The treatment of the children in the book is somewhat Victorian. It is about three adopted children , and their struggles to achieve careers on the stage or in ballet .The title 'Ballet shoes ' is relevant to the youngest , Posy, who is the only one to achieve major success as she is taken on to train as a ballet dancer by a famous person and you assume she will become professional. The educational standard of the children in the book is way above the dumbed- down standards of today -they speak French , know about opera, ballets and Shakespeare plays ! and that is at primary school age .Only very bright or well-educated children today will keep up .However , Noel Streatfield is a gifted writer adn the book has human interest and universal appeal in the sense that it is about children growing up and making their way in life .