She Kept Dancing : The True Story of a Professional Dancer with a Limb Difference

This debut picture book tells the true story of Sydney Mesher, the first Radio City Rockette with a visible disability.

No two dances were the same. Each one was beautiful because it was different—just like how Sydney’s body was also beautiful because it was different.

Sydney Mesher was born with ten toes and five fingers. But it was her toes that her mom noticed first. "I can tell she’s going to be a dancer," she said.

And it turned out Mom was right—after years of hard work, Sydney eventually danced her way onto the famous stage of Radio City Music Hall, becoming the first Rockette with a visible disability.

This warm and inviting picture book, cowritten with Catherine Laudone and brightly illustrated by Natelle Quek, takes young readers along on Sydney’s journey—through the joyous ups as well as the crushing downs—and tells the story of how through it all, she kept dancing.

Sydney Mesher, originally from Portland, Oregon, is a New York–based dancer and model. In 2019, she made her debut as a Radio City Rockette. Her career is driven by her hopes to bring a new image to the dance industry by highlighting different body types and celebrating individuality

A full time writer and editor, Catherine Laudone is dedicated to creating and shaping stories that will have a lasting, positive impact on young readers’ lives

Natelle Quek is a Malaysian-born children’s book illustrator who grew up in New Zealand, and now calls the UK home. Natelle lives in leafy, historic Kent with her husband, a grumpy cat, and a loud-snoring dog