Misty Copeland; illustrated by Setor Fiadzigbey

NY TIMES BESTSELLING MEDIA DARLING: Misty is a rare ballet superstar (she was only the second African American female soloist for the ABT and the first African American woman to be named principal dancer) who has become a household name. Beloved by the media for her inspirational story and impressive list of accomplishments, she has had numerous endorsement deals with companies like American Express, COACH, Diet Dr. Pepper, Estée Lauder, Oikos, Seiko, and she's also an ambassador for Boys and Girls Club of America. Her Under Armour campaign "I Will What I Want" went viral and currently has over 11,000,000 views to date. In addition to her own collection of active wear with Under Armour she also has her own Barbie doll with Mattel. Most recently, Misty also starred in her first film, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. She's additionally been profiled in almost every major publication and has appeared as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance.

EXCITING NEW SERIES FROM A STAR: The first of two planned picture books, Bunheads tells a fictionalized rendition of Misty's first days in ballet in a relatable and inspirational way that will have children everywhere striving to do their best in whatever they choose. The books to follow will continue Misty's journey in the dance world and will also feature her friends introduced in this first book.

AWARD-WINNING HISTORY: Misty's first picture book, Firebird, received glowing press, numerous awards, starred reviews, and wide praise from readers-we expect no less from Misty's new picture book series, Bunheads.

STUNNING ARTWORK: Setor Fiadzigbey creates elegant characters that convey strength and vulnerability, perfect for portraying Misty Copeland as a budding dancer. His skill with body language captures the precision and emotion of ballet poses and his animation experience gives his artwork a strong sense of storytelling. His scenes have a palpable sense of mood and place, from the German roots of the story of Coppélia to the contemporary ballet studio and the glamor and drama of the stage. We were particularly excited to find an established talent from Ghana and work with him on his debut picture book in the US.