Perfect Picture Books: I Dreamed I Was A Ballerina

Growing up, I was fortunate enough to have a mother who loves the arts. Everything from paintings to sculpture to music. We saw shows on and off Broadway, attended the Children's Orchestra series of the NY Philharmonic, and took a trip into Manhattan for the premier of the movie Pete's Dragon. I suppose that at some point the movie would have made it to NJ, but why wait, right?
So, when  I had my daughter it should have been no surprise that this book was a gift from my mother to my daughter. It's a wonderful continuation of something she started with me and my sister and will hopefully continue with for one more generation. And so, on that note, I present this week's Perfect Picture Book:

Title: I Dreamed I Was A Ballerina
Written by: Anna Pavlova
Illustrated with art by: Edgar Degas

Publisher: Atheneum Books For Young Readers, 2001
Suitable for: Ages 3 and up
Themes/Topics: Dancing, Dreams, Ballet, Art
Opening: From the book: Vivid are my earliest recollections, which take me back to the time when I was living in a little apartment with my mother in the city.
Brief Synopsis: This beautiful story tells of the night when ballerina, Anna Pavlova, saw her first ballet and vowed to become a ballerina and dance the part of Beauty in Sleeping Beauty one day on that very same stage. The entire book uses paintings and sketches by Degas to illustrate the story and it's just beautiful.
Links to resources: The Metropolitan Museum of Art; What's better than a trip to the museum to see the art in real life? New York City Ballet; same is true here.
Why I chose this book: Aside from the beautiful paintings, I love hearing from Anna Pavlova as the poor child of a single mother and how she was so inspired by seeing Sleeping Beauty that it determined her future. Her dreams came true through hard work and dedication, which serves as a model for any child with a dream.