Once Upon a Dance "A Tail of Twirls: Kittina and the Starlight Ballerina" book

Kittina Ballerina twirls into the spotlight in her enchanting debut now in paperback by Once Upon a Dance (Author), Stella Maris Mongodi (Illustrator).

A whimsical tale of dance, feline flair, and the magic of finding purpose and passion.

When curious Kit stumbles upon an abandoned dance studio, she discovers a magical mirror and a world of wonder! With inspiration from Ballerina Konora, young readers will twirl along in this dance story adventure.

A Tail of Twirls debuts Kittina Ballerina's Dance-Along Adventures—a delightful series to inspire imagination and joyful movement. Already the winner of three first-place book awards, this charming tale invites little dancers to leap into the pages with grace and giggles. Perfect for ages 3+. The story and charming illustrations will twirl its way into your heart!

Discover the magic of dance with Once Upon a Dance. Their catalog is designed to inspire not only movement, but also breath, imagination, a love of dance, and a connection with readers.

Included Movements

• Tiptoe • Spin • Crawl • Scooch • Lean Forward • Lean Sideways • Tilted Head • Flap • Finger Isolation • Reach • Kneel • Step Over • Weight Shift

Ballet Steps

• Relevé Parallel • Relevé Turned Out • Plié Parallel • Plié First • Tendu Front • Passé Parallel

Featured Concepts

• Breath • Emotions • Heartbeat • Stillness • Pushing • Connecting Body Parts • Moving with Eyes Closed • Variety of Movements/Ideas • Movement Quality • Gratitude/Appreciation • Community • Lending a Hand • The Value of Hard Work • Importance of Practice

Bonus Pictures

• Relevé in Second • Grand Plié in First • Turned-Out Passé • Tendu Back • Arabesque Leg from Kneeling • Arabesque • Extension à la Seconde • Attitude Front • Side Port de Bras • Penché • Exploring Arm Symmetry, Curved/Straight & Shape • Back Port de Bras • Partnering • StoryTelling

Once Upon a Dance brings joy of movement to young readers everywhere—all while donating royalties to support the arts, animals, the environment, and people through 2030. These stories are a passion project honoring the beauty, joy, and discipline of ballet. For further information, visit OnceUponADance.com.

Once Upon a Dance has received over 3,500 five-star reviews and has won numerous awards, including twelve first-place book awards and a Kirkus Star. They were named Top 10 Author by the Outstanding Creator Awards in 2022, 2023, and 2024.