"Playful, poignant, and purr-fectly inspiring…
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​​​​​​Azenberg kicks off her Paws Elementary series with a fun, heartwarming tale of grit, friendship, and chasing dreams. At Paws Elementary, Jack—a black-and-white kitten—longs to join his friends in ballet but stumbles through his first attempts. Ready to give up, he finds renewed determination after his dads lovingly urge him to keep trying. Will he triumph?
Azenberg’s lively, rhyming prose dances off the page, delivering an inspiring message: setbacks pave the way to success. Jack’s struggles and teary moments feel genuine, while his rediscovered passion for ballet makes his ultimate victory all the sweeter. Li Liu’s illustrations dazzle, capturing Jack’s clumsy yet charming practice, the whimsy of colorful tutus, and the grandeur of the final recital. The joy, struggle, and triumph leap off the page, making this book a visual treat. Beyond the fun, the story sparks conversations about resilience and the importance of family support, showing kids that big dreams demand hard work—and that it’s okay to lean on loved ones.
Heartfelt, uplifting, and utterly delightful, this book is a must-read for dreamers, dancers, and anyone who needs a nudge to keep going. Young readers will cheer for Jack—and feel inspired to tackle their own challenges."
– The Prairies Book Review
"Jack Follows His Heart by Jessica Azenberg is a children's picture book. Jack is so excited when his friends take him to their ballet class, but he doesn’t realize how hard it will be. When he struggles on the first day, he leaves the class and goes home downhearted and sad. But his dads boost him up and encourage him to continue following his dream, and his determination to succeed will help him. Will Jack ever be good enough at ballet to take part in the show?
Jack Follows His Heart by Jessica Azenberg is a fun book with stunning illustrations by Li Liu. The story is written in lilting rhyme, making it flow very well and easier for kids to read and enjoy. While it is a lovely story, it also has a serious message for kids: following their dreams and achieving things is only possible with practice, hard work, and sheer determination. This is a story of building the confidence to do things that seem impossible and persevering to win. Part of the Paws Elementary series, this book has some lovely animal characters that many children will be able to relate to, all with human traits and characters that kids can identify in themselves and others. Overall, this is a captivating tale that kids will love to read over and over again, and, with time, even younger children will understand the messages in the story. This is an enriching, heartwarming tale that should be on every child’s reading wish list." – Readers' Favorite
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