Handsome princes. Evil sorcerers. Swan maidens, and a bird of fire! Like all great fairy tales, the stories of the ballet are filled with magic. In Of Swans, Sugarplums and Satin Slippers, internationally famous ballerina Violette Verdy and Caldecott-winning artist Marcia Brown bring these six wonderful fantasies to life for children.

Here are the best-loved ballets every: in the romantic Swan Lake, a prince falls in love with the enchanted Swan Queen; Giselle tells of a well-meaning but thoughtless young Count who romances an innocent peasant girl—and nearly pays with his life. Swanilda and Franz, two silly lovers, quarrel comically over a rival in Coppélia; and a brave Tsarevich, aided by a magnificent bird of fire, tries to free the princess he loves in The Firebird. Sleeping Beauty is the ballet version of the familiar Perrault tale. And, of course, there's The Nutcracker, the charming Christmas story of a young girl and the wooden doll who comes to life and takes her to the delicious Land of Sweets.

Each story has an introduction that tells the history of the ballet, along with some personal reminiscences that only a ballerina who has danced in each of these ballets could provide. 

From the dust jacket