Lyrical, inspiring, and affecting text paired with bright, appealing illustrations make Ready to Fly perfect for aspiring ballerinas everywhere who are ready to leap and to spread their wings!

Ready to Fly is the true story of Sylvia Townsend, an African American girl who falls in love with ballet after seeing Swan Lake on TV. This nonfiction picture book is an excellent choice to share at home or in the classroom. 

Although there aren’t many ballet schools that will accept a girl like Sylvia in the 1950s, her local bookmobile provides another possibility. A librarian helps Sylvia find a book about ballet and the determined seven-year-old, with the help of her new books, starts teaching herself the basics of classical ballet.

Soon Sylvia learns how to fly—how to dance—and how to dare to dream.

Includes a foreword from Sylvia Townsend, a brief history of the bookmobile, an author’s note, and a further reading list.

How did one girl’s determination make her dreams take flight?

• Inspiring Biography for Kids: The true story of Sylvia Townsend, a young Black girl in the 1950s who refused to let anyone tell her she couldn’t dance.
• Overcoming Adversity: A gentle but clear introduction to the challenges of segregation, showing how Sylvia faced down prejudice with grace and grit.
• The Power of Libraries: A heartwarming celebration of bookmobiles, librarians, and the magic of finding the right book at the right time.
• Growth Mindset for Kids: A perfect example of a growth mindset in action, as Sylvia uses books to teach herself the basics of ballet, one plié at a time.