The Ribbon by Tessa Blackham

This uplifting picture book with gorgeous illustrations and minimal text shows the impact of accepting encouragement and paying it forward through the tale of a young ballerina overcoming stage fright.

It’s time to go on stage, but one young dancer is nervous. So she runs and hides until an older ballerina hears her sniffles and unties the beautiful red ribbon from her hair, offering it as a small, shining gift of courage.

With the ribbon in hand, the young dancer steps into the light and dances without fear. She takes to the stage over and over again…and years later, when she hears a little sniffle in the dressing room, she knows just what to do.