This February, the Museum of Cambridge invites families to rediscover the much-loved childhood classic Angelina Ballerina, with ‘Making Angelina: The World of Helen Craig’, a new exhibition running from 14 February to 1 June 2026.

For more than 40 years, Angelina Ballerina has captured the hearts of young readers around the world. With over 20 books in the series written by Katharine Holabird and illustrated by Helen Craig, the stories follow a young mouse named Angelina and her adventures as she pursues her dreams of becoming a ballerina. Today, visitors can step inside Angelina’s world and explore how the beloved characters were created from first sketches to finished books.

The exhibition celebrates the work of Cambridgeshire illustrator Helen Craig, whose own childhood growing up in Hertfordshire in the 1930s and 1940s inspired the intricately detailed scenes that bring the Angelina Ballerina stories to life.

On display will be formative character sketches, original drawings and behind the scenes material showing how each story takes shape. Families visiting the exhibition can immerse themselves into Angelina’s world through everyday items featured in the books and enjoy the chance to create their own performances on the big stage!