Mei's Star Dance in the Whispering Woods

Ages 3–5

Mei twirls into the autumn forest to practice ballet, dreaming of dancing for someone someday, and one brave step at a time, a whole woodland audience of deer and rabbits joins her very first big performance.

Confidence grows one small brave step at a time, and moving your body with joy is its own kind of magic.

In the Whispering Woods, where amber leaves fall, Mei tiptoed out to a clearing so small. She dreamed of dancing for someone, someday — she tapped her gold acorn, one, two, then away!

She pointed one toe and rose up so light, spinning so slow, like a moon in the night. The leaves seemed to spin with her, twirl after twirl — 'Twirl, little dancer, twirl!' sang the world.

But a twig gave a CRACK underneath her slipper! Mei wobbled and stopped, feeling smaller, not bigger. She almost turned round to run straight home — until she peeked back, feeling suddenly alone.

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