Angelina Ballerina™
Angelina Ballerina is a little star with big dreams of becoming a prima ballerina. This feisty little mouse works hard to reach her goal and along the way, always learns from her mistakes. When little girls share in Angelina's experiences, they're inspired to go after their big dreams too. In addition to the critically acclaimed story books created by Katharine Holabird and Helen Craig, Angelina Ballerina dances her way into the hearts of young girls weekly on PBS KIDS®.
Angelina Ballerina: Creator Bio
Katharine Holabird
Katharine Holabird grew up in Chicago, where she remembers dressing up and dancing around the family home with her three sisters, "just like Angelina..."
"We were always reading books and using our imagination," she says, "and we loved to make believe we were ballerinas and princesses."
Ms. Holabird remembers special occasions when she attended ballets like Swan Lake and The Nutcracker Suite with her grandmother, and how much she enjoyed entertaining her family with performances of her own.
Ms. Holabird received a B.A. in Literature from Bennington College in Vermont in 1969, and was a journalist in Italy for three years before moving to England in 1973. She worked as a nursery school teacher in London, and then became a freelance writer when her first daughter was born in 1976.
Ms. Holabird began writing children's books in 1982, and published Angelina Ballerina™ with English illustrator Helen Craig in 1983. The Angelina storybooks relate to childhood themes such as friendship, jealousy, loyalty and dedication. The 23 books have inspired an animated series as well as 10 Home Entertainment titles.
The Angelina Ballerina books have won a collection of awards: The Kentucky Bluegrass Award was given to Angelina Ballerina in 1985; Angelina's Christmas was selected as the Child's Study Association's Children's Book of the Year in 1987; a category award at the British Book Design and Production Exhibition was given to Angelina's Birthday in 1990. Angelina has also been honored with several Platinum Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Awards for Rose Fairy Princess in 2002, and Friends Forever and The Magic Of Dance in 2004.
