Children’s book reviews: From sacrifices for ballet, to dinosaur adventures, and war

Pet O’Connell rounds up a selection of the latest children’s books, including a tale of the sacrifices required to succeed in a Russian ballet school, fun for dinosaur-obsessed children, and a story of young lives changed utterly by needless war

Above from left: Author of ‘Bluebird’ Harriet Parsons; Jen Wallace has released the third book in her dinosaur series, and Eoin Colfer collaborates once again with Andrew Donkin and Giovanni Rigano.

Bluebird by Harriet Parsons (O’Brien Press, €11.99)

“My school not fun. My school not play,” warns Madame Volkova. “To be accepted to my school, to train to be a dancer, there is a price to pay. Ballet means sacrifice.”