The Very Young Person's Guide to Ballet Music by Tim Lihoreau, Philip Noyce

Discover the world’s most famous ballets, including Swan Lake, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, Spartacus, and The Firebird accompanied by 10 sound clips of child-friendly pieces.

Learn about the music and stories of ballet in the second book of The Very Young Person’s Guide To… series. 

Pull on your pointe shoes and follow our heroes as they explore beautiful scenes inspired by some of ballet’s most loved music, including Swan Lake, Giselle, The Nutcracker, Spartacus, and The Firebird. Young readers can discover iconic moments including Swan Lake’s Dance of the Cygnets, The Clog Dance from La Fille Mal Gardée, and Don Quixote’s Dance of the Matadors. Original illustrations capture the beautiful story of the ballet, while the sound button brings the composer’s dazzling pieces to life. Every spread feature fascinating facts about the ballet, performers, the composer, and the music.

Ideal for young children starting music and dance lessons, The Very Young Person’s Guide to Ballet Music is guaranteed to delight and inspire.

Tim Lihoreau is the presenter of the biggest breakfast show on commercial radio: Classic FM’s More Music Breakfast. Tim has won a multitude of awards for his radio writing and production on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as being the author of eleven books. His Modern Phobias has been translated into eleven languages. With a degree in music from the University of Leeds, he was a professional pianist before moving into radio. Along with his wife, he runs three amateur choirs in his home village in Cambridgeshire and regularly plays the organ at his local church.

Phil Noyce has been the Managing Editor of Classic FM since March 2020 and a key part of the station for over a decade. In that time, he has written for a large array of radio programmes and presenters, reaching millions of people. He has a first-class honours degree in Physics with Music from Royal Holloway, University of London and is a keen musician who plays the cello and electric bass.

Sally Agar is an illustrator and designer based in North Yorkshire. She loves working with colour, texture, and pattern, and aims to bring a bit of everyday magic to her illustrations. She loves creating characters with spark and energy, as well as injecting a bit of humour into her work. Sally recently returned to the UK after ten years living in Stockholm working as a Print Designer for fashion companies. When she’s not in her attic studio working on her latest painting, Sally is happiest out in nature with her young son by her side.