It's nighttime and Desdamona is ready for bed. Her favorite thing to do before bed is to be read a bedtime story about a famous ballet. Every night a different member of her richly multicultural family reads her a different story. Tonight it's her mother and the story is Raymonda...Raymonda is the story of a princess who is in love with a humble knight who leaves to go on the Crusades. While away, Raymonda is introduced to another knight who has much riches, treasures and power. Raymonda must choose what is right for her. Independent minded and focused on her own values, our strong female protagonist sticks to her own values to make her decision. As Desdamona sleeps, she dreams she is dancing the lead in the ballet of Raymonda. When she wakes she is inspired and has lots of interesting questions about her dream. This story within a story is full of adventures, fantasy and promotes bi-racial and multicultural characters with additional reading comprehension and history behind the ballet at the end of the book. A real treat for young dreamers, dancers and thinkers alike!
