Noel Streatfeild was a writer of popular children’s books in the 1930’s. Her first novel, Ballet Shoes, was so popular that the U.S. publishers renamed several of her subsequent books to include the word “shoes,” even though they were not series books.
Ballet Shoes is about three girls, all adopted by Great Uncle Matthew, called Gum. Gum is a fossil hunter, but when his house becomes too full of fossils, his great-niece Sylvia’s nanny makes him give them away to a museum. Gum goes off on another fossil-hunting trip but brings back a baby instead, the unidentified survivor of a shipwreck. Over the course of five years, he brings back two more. These are Pauline, Petrova, and Posy, and he gives them the last name of Fossil.
Gum goes off on another trip, leaving Sylvia and the cook and nanny in charge. Sylvia does her best to bring up the girls, although she is only ten years older than Pauline. But Gum doesn’t return, and the money begins to run out. Sylvia is forced to remove the girls from school and try to teach them herself. Finally, she must take in boarders.
Sylvia is lucky in her boarders, because soon they are all involved in the girls’ education. Two retired university professors undertake to teach the girls at no cost, and Theo, who teaches ballet, gets them enrollment in the Children’s Academy of Dancing and Stage Training, which prepares children for a career in the arts.
At 11, Pauline shows promise as an actress, and none of them have any doubt that Posy will be a famous ballerina. Only Petrova does not feel any particular aptitude, except for her interests in motors and flying, and she is most happy on Sundays, when boarder Mr. Simpson lets her work in his garage.
The rest of the novel follows the girls’ careers as they struggle to make enough money to support themselves and study dancing and theatre.
Ballet Shoes is not a classic because of its writing style or literary attainment, at least in my opinion. The writing is workmanlike, and the narrative arc lacks the highs and lows of other classics. Instead, it is a classic because of Streatfeild’s knowledge of the arts and the details about classes and stage productions. I think this novel would be fascinating for any child interested in the arts, especially ballet. And the plot about the four orphans trying to make it in a difficult world should appeal to most other imaginative children.
whatmeread 
My daughter just read this and loved it! I had to take it back to the library before I could read it, but now I want to check it out again.
I actually thought of you and Naomi when I posted this.
I loved this as a child but have never re-read it as an adult. I wonder what I would think of it now?
It may benefit from your nostalgia. I’ve retread just a few books I loved as a child, sometimes being agreeably surprised by how well they stand up.
I wonder why I have never heard of this?! I will definitely be checking my library for it!
I hadn’t heard of it before, either. I can’t remember what put me onto it.
Oh these, kids books. Like the vintage-y cover. BTW, I put up 3 reviews on my blog last week, anxious to hear your thoughts on them, come over and read!
Although I agree that Streatfeild is not beloved because of literary qualities, I disagree that the main reason is her insight into theatre and the arts, though those are real merits. I think it’s because she takes her protagonists and what they do so seriously.
I loved and love many of her children’s books. Would recommend “Skating Shoes” and “Dancing Shoes” as the next two to check out. “Movie Shoes” is good too.
Hmm, that’s an interesting point of view, but I’m trying to think of examples of writers who don’t take their protagonists seriously.