Sophie & the Magic of Dance is a fear-free story for middle readers providing a safe, peaceful playground for young imaginations. Written and illustrated by Shelley Richardson, M.Ed, former college English professor and present owner of Richardson Montessori, the story is rich in vocabulary and vivid imagery. There are no villains, scary characters or violent scenes. Key messages about daring to dream, the power of positive thinking and living passionately from the heart are modelled through the main character's dedication to dance and her friendship with delightful characters in the natural world. Sophie is a passionate 8-year-old girl and exceptionally talented dancer who finds inspiration and music to fuel her dream everywhere she goes - on her trips to the big city for ballet classes and on walks in the beautiful, mystical forest beside her home. There she spends time with her friends including Winnie Wind, the Sunbeams, the Beaver family, Pavlova the Monarch butterfly and wise Pechanga, the oldest tree in all the woodlands. She is working hard in her ballet classes with Mme. Ziss preparing for a successful audition with Canada's National Ballet School where she envisions her dream of becoming a professional dancer coming true. Sophie learns her technique very well but ultimately, discovers the magic of dance - that spark which is the mark of any great dancer - in her encounters with the elements of nature: the air, water, earth and fire. Sophie provides a bridge over the troubled waters of fear-based storytelling, giving children's imaginations a chance to soar unencumbered, free in the realm of positivity. Sophie inspires young hearts to seek and to be in love with the beauty of life. "Sophie is a jewel. A remedy for our times." Master Artist, Georgi Danevski.