In this story with similarities to Mary Hoffman's Amazing Grace, Sassy dreams of becoming a great dancer. She is, however, afraid that she will never succeed because she is so tall and her feet are so large. Her name, Sassy, fits perfectly, her mother says, but Sassy doesn't mind. She practices her dancing with fervor and takes (and gives) teasing from her brother and his friends. At last her big chance comes¾she auditions for a spot in a summer training school and a performance in Washington, D.C. Here she finally finds a dance partner who is taller. Allen's story and Nelson's expressive, realistic oil paintings bring the saucy Sassy to life and present her as an inspiration for children to persevere to achieve success. Nelson's first painting of Sassy as a young girl is priceless. The reader cannot help but like her and root for her as she pursues her dream. This book, together with Amazing Grace, will give children the encouragement to develop self-confidence and never give up on a dream. Every collection of children's literature should have this wonderful, multicultural book.