Those in love with ballet will find much to enjoy.
An introduction to the art for those in the know and those who are new.
In swirls of lilacs and blues, the 26 letters of the alphabet introduce readers to the enchanting world of American Ballet Theater as seen onstage, backstage, in rehearsal studios, and at school. Starting with A for “arabesque,” with the legendary Lucia Chase as the dancer, the letters move on through Natalia Makarova performing a “glissade” from Giselle and Misty Copeland in a very dramatic pose from the “modern masterwork” Firebird to Anthony Tudor and Twyla Tharp rehearsing their original choreography. Not all is graceful movement, however, as one dancer is seen soaking her feet in an “ice bath.” Children from ABT’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School demonstrate the five basic positions of ballet while in other scenes, dancers stretch, warm-up, waltz, and perform their “révérence.” Most figures named in the captions are White, but African American dancers Copeland and Calvin Royal III, Argentine dancer Herman Cornejo, and Korean ballerina Hee Seo are also featured (all such are identified in the backmatter); the supporting cast is multiracial. Children in ballet school or attending a performance for the first time will enjoy the close-up views and the nice mix of former and current dancers. The couplets and quatrains read smoothly, and the illustrations are vibrant and lively, though characters’ faces are stylized and rather stiff. (This book was reviewed digitally with 12-by-19-inch double-page spreads viewed at 31.4% of actual size.)
Those in love with ballet will find much to enjoy. (glossary) (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 22, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-18094-5
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: June 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A supplemental rather than introductory book on the great artist.
Frida Kahlo’s strong affection for and identification with animals form the lens through which readers view her life and work in this picture-book biography.
Each two-page spread introduces one or more of her pets, comparing her characteristics to theirs and adding biographical details. Confusingly for young readers, the beginning pages reference pets she owned as an adult, yet the illustrations and events referred to come from earlier in her life. Bonito the parrot perches in a tree overlooking young Frida and her family in her childhood home and pops up again later, just before the first mention of Diego Rivera. Granizo, the fawn, another pet from her adult years, is pictured beside a young Frida and her father along with a description of “her life as a little girl.” The author’s note adds important details about Kahlo’s life and her significance as an artist, as well as recommending specific paintings that feature her beloved animals. Expressive acrylic paintings expertly evoke Kahlo’s style and color palette. While young animal lovers will identify with her attachment to her pets and may enjoy learning about the Aztec origins of her Xolo dogs and the meaning of turkeys in ancient Mexico, the book may be of most interest to those who already have an interest in Kahlo’s life.
A supplemental rather than introductory book on the great artist. (Picture book/biography. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4269-4
Page Count: 40
Publisher: NorthSouth
Review Posted Online: June 18, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Blandly inspirational fare made to evoke equally shrink-wrapped responses.
An NBA star pays tribute to the influence of his grandfather.
In the same vein as his Long Shot (2009), illustrated by Frank Morrison, this latest from Paul prioritizes values and character: “My granddad Papa Chilly had dreams that came true,” he writes, “so maybe if I listen and watch him, / mine will too.” So it is that the wide-eyed Black child in the simply drawn illustrations rises early to get to the playground hoops before anyone else, watches his elder working hard and respecting others, hears him cheering along with the rest of the family from the stands during games, and recalls in a prose afterword that his grandfather wasn’t one to lecture but taught by example. Paul mentions in both the text and the backmatter that Papa Chilly was the first African American to own a service station in North Carolina (his presumed dream) but not that he was killed in a robbery, which has the effect of keeping the overall tone positive and the instructional content one-dimensional. Figures in the pictures are mostly dark-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Blandly inspirational fare made to evoke equally shrink-wrapped responses. (Picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: Jan. 10, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-250-81003-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
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