"The idea for Sophie's story came to me while I was watching a swan swimming on a pond. I thought, 'What if this graceful, exquisite creature decided to become a ballerina?'" Alegra Kent, principal dancer, New York City Ballet
"The theme of Ballerina Swan is one that I have employed in my own stories: find what you love to do, then persevere, practice, and take chances; learn from failures to master skills and become freely creative. This story is a uniquely charming iteration of my favorite theme." Emily Arnold McCully
Joan Acocella, The New Yorker:"These anatomical subtleties, together with their social and aesthetic consequences, are brilliantly - at times, piercingly - rendered by the book's illustrator, Emily Arnold McCully."
From Kirkus Reviews, STARRED: "McCully, a Caldecott medalist, uses watercolors and pen-and-ink for delicate and detailed paintings. Sophie is imbued with a winning personality."
From School Library JournaL, STARRED:"McCully's famed delicate pen-and-ink and watercolor artwork is an ideal match for the topic. The artist balances the comic (Sophie using an Ipod for practice) with the sublime..."