In this beautiful picture book with pictures that are full of warmth and cosy old-fashionedness with lots of modern touches as well, we meet Frances Dean, who does indeed love to dance. When she is by herself, she is happy dancing, and even in school she dances 'with her fingers on her desk'. The wind and the birds make her happy, but the minute other people come along, she forgets how to dance and is sad. She believes they are all looking at her. One day the birds take her to see a little girl who is singing a lovely song, and she hopes that one day she can share her dancing like the little girl shares her song. The birds are encouraging, and after she has done lots of practicing, she asks them if they will watch her dance. Of course they are quite willing, and after this success, she dances with the family cat and then a neighbour's dog and finally with 'an old lady in the square'. By the time the little girl who sings has asked to be taught to dance too, Frances is well away, and soon the whole town seems to be enjoying her dancing. This is a lovely, lovely book, the illustrations particularly charming and the text lyrical; shy little girls will take heed of Frances's growth from shyness to self-esteem through her love of dance.