Description

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Today’s my first ice skating class. I’ll fly through the air, land on one foot, and spin so fast you can’t see me!

Claire can’t wait to get out on the ice and skate, skate, skate! She’s going to jump, leap, and twirl! Just you wait—pretty soon she’ll be on TV and dazzling audiences everywhere. But when Claire and her mom arrive at the Ice Center for Claire’s very first skate lesson, it’s not everything Claire was dreaming it would be. Beginners wear ugly brown skates, and who wants to practice marching in place when you can get right to it? But not so fast, Claire! One overeager foot on the ice, and…


Wibble.
Wobble—
BOOM!


In this humorous tale of expectation meets reality, Claire discovers beautiful performances require lots of skill, and it’s going to take many small failures and perseverance if she wants to skate like a pro.

About the Author

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Mary Ann Rodman holds a Masters in Library and Information Science from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. A former school media specialist, she is also the author of A Tree for Emmy and First Grade Stinks! She has received both the Ezra Jack Keats Award for Outstanding New Picture Book Writer and the Charlotte Zolotow Award.
 

Holly Sterling is a freelance children’s illustrator and designer. She has earned a First Class Honors Degree in illustration and design from the University of Sunderland and received an MFA with Distinction from Edinburgh College of Art. She teaches as an illustration lecturer at the University of Sunderland. Follow her on Instagram @hollysterling87.
 

Praise For…

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★ "It is hard not to be charmed by this simple tale of a novice ice-skater's first lesson. . . . The illustrations are just as charming as the text. Sterling captures both Claire's emotions and the movement of the skaters in her cheerful artwork. . . . perfect for nervous newbies at just about anything."—Booklist, Starred Review
 
"Realistically portrays the ups and downs of learning a new skill with satisfying success."—Kirkus Reviews

"Any kid who has expected to be an expert at something right away only to find out it’s hard work can likely relate to Claire’s struggle. . . ."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books