Bella the Buck-Toothed Ballerina
Bella the Buck-Toothed Ballerina
I know exactly what you’re thinking.
What makes this book different from all the other children’s dance books out there? This one was written with your daughter’s first dance experience in mind.
“Being a mom, I feel it’s very important to try and handle and figure out a safe place for a child of any age and also figure out a way to handle a situation….We love Bella the Buck-Toothed Ballerina. I also love that it has the proper grammar of the ballet positions and moves. Not only is she reading a fun book, but little does she know she’s learning the dance language.” – Cecelia
Scroll down to read a personal note from the Author.
Bella is the cultivation of my experiences as a student, dance teacher, and award-winning choreographer. My experiences are not that far off from Bella’s own.
Now it’s time for a little synopsis for you. Bella is a joyful 6-year-old girl who’s been told her dream will never come true because of her flashy buck-teeth.
Through her love for dance and encouragement from Miss. Annie, Bella stands up to her bully, Maddie. She feels safe to dance with a big shiny buck-toothed smile glistening across her face!
This story will leave your little dreamer feeling the confidence Bella had to stand up Maddie, the radiating power of self-love, and the courage to follow their dreams no matter what voices seep into their ears.
Now, to answer your question. This isn’t just another ballerina tale. This is a dance lesson sprinkled into a children’s tale of diversity, confidence, self-love, and courage. Unlike most children’s dance books, Bella is complete with:
A special glossary of dance terms and steps that live in the book’s pages.
A hand-written dedication in your signed copy from me, the author.
A Free Virtual Dance Lesson that goes over all of the ballet steps in the story.
“As a former choreographer/teacher myself, it was always my pleasure to remind students of the beauty of their effort. Children can be so mean and it’s usually the bully who’s actually the most vulnerable due to their own insecurities…You are offering a wonderful opportunity for opening dialogue that might otherwise remain suppressed and uncomfortable for some. Thank you.” – Diane Murray Ward.
Ultimately, your child will embrace their differences with a huge hug and see them in a new light. They are superpowers! I wouldn’t be surprised if your dreamer starts power dancing through your days.
Every copy sold through amandamontoni.com comes with the bulleted points above AND a portion of the proceeds never make it to my pocket. They are donated to two organizations that are devoted to making girls dreams come true: Inspiring Girls and Girls Leadership.
Bella the Buck-Toothed Ballerina is published by Red Penguin Books.
If you think this book is right for you and your daughter, click on the “add to cart” button below. Dreams start with one step, and this book is the first.
A Note from the Author:
Hey, Reader,
When I was a kid, all I wanted to do was move my feet and shake my booty. Apparently, I did this enough that my mother caved to my aunt's wishes. Next thing I knew, I was in my first dance class with my cousin.
That didn’t last long. After the year, my mother saw that the studio was not the one she envisioned for my dance education. You see, my mom was (and still is) all about learning experiences full of quality and value.
She wanted me to dance my heart out in a studio that focused on learning the art of dance. She wasn’t about a competition driven studio. That would create an environment full of intense judgment and pressure. She wanted to avoid a place like the show Dance Moms at all costs.
Mom was driven to find a nurturing, affordable studio close to home that concentrated on teaching the culture of dance to children of all ages and levels. I can’t thank her enough for that.
My studio was my second home. I learned so much and had so much fun doing it. I was taught by a former Rockette and a highly regarded professional, so I know I was getting a quality education.
However, the dance industry is judgemental in nature and since I was different from the other girls, I did eventually compare myself to them at every turn. Ah, puberty.
It’s no secret I was the fat girl in class. I felt insanely insecure about my weight. I would pop out of costumes because they weren’t made for girls that were anything but tall and skinny. Those bright ass sequence costumes were a size or two larger than my normal clothes. I looked like a freaking disco ball.
This video only skims the surface of my personal story. Check it out if you want a deeper dive.
But the thing was, I was good. I’m still a great dancer. And after years of being the fat teacher in the very same studio I grew up in, I knew in my heart that I needed to get my message to more girls out there.
I wrote Bella the Buck-Toothed Ballerina for all of the dancer dreamers who might begin to feel that their differences make them bad dancers. And more heartbreakingly, bad people. I wish there was a book like Bella for me back in the day.
Bella the Buck-Toothed Ballerina is my way of saying you can be whoever you want to be. You are beautiful the way you are. Keep dreaming. Keep working. Screw what everyone says about you. You know who you are on the inside, and that’s what matters most.
My mission is to spread confidence and self-love in young humans around the world. They are the future. If I could change the performance world even just a tiny bit to a more welcoming and mentally pleasant one for the girls of the future, I could die happy knowing that I tried.
If you like Bella’s message, spread the love by buying this book for your child, your niece, your neighbor, or even the young dreamer inside of you. Every purchase includes a personal note and a percentage of the proceeds is donated to Inspirin Girls and Girls Leadership.
With love and hugs,
Amanda Montoni
