Overview
Sparking watercolors-and-ink illustrations dance across the page and spill out onto a horizontal foldout of elephants and ballerinas spotlighted together—in the true story of "Circus Polka," choreographed in 1942 by George Balanchine, with music by Igor Stravinsky and performances by John Ringling North's elephants. Robert Andrew Parker brings his love of theater, dance, and costume to this captivating story. Leda Schubert's background note includes black-and-white photos of the actual performance.
Synopsis
Sparking watercolors-and-ink illustrations dance across the page and spill out onto a horizontal foldout of elephants and ballerinas spotlighted together—in the true story of "Circus Polka," choreographed in 1942 by George Balanchine, with music by Igor Stravinsky and performances by John Ringling North's elephants. Robert Andrew Parker brings his love of theater, dance, and costume to this captivating story. Leda Schubert's background note includes black-and-white photos of the actual performance.
Publishers Weekly
A memorable piece of circus history takes center ring in Schubert's (Here Comes Darrell) fact-filled tale. The author explains how composer Igor Stravinsky, choreographer George Balanchine and circus leader John Ringling North-all famous in their own right-came together to create a ballet for 50 elephants in 1942. Several spreads feature separate brief histories of the three men: readers learn of Stravinsky's misunderstood music and Balanchine's homesickness when he was sent away to ballet school at age nine. North, who envisioned the pachyderm performance, called upon Russian-born Balanchine, who then involved his friend and fellow countryman Stravinsky. A gatefold opens to reveal the momentous dance. Modoc lifts ballerina Zorina in his trunk in a standout painting that recalls Toulouse-Lautrec's Moulin-Rouge posters; he and the other elephants "wore fluffy pink tutus and jeweled headbands." (The World's Greatest Elephant, reviewed below, offers a chilling backstory to elephant star Modoc's tale.) Parker's (Cold Feet) ethereal artwork evokes the lightness and movement of ballet, as watercolors bleed out of the pen-and-ink outlines. While the narrative casually uses a few terms (e.g., "bull men," "droshkies") without explanation, and the artists' backgrounds may seem like a bit of a detour, Schubert manages to put the show in a broader cultural context. Author notes contain black-and-white photos of the ballet along with additional fascinating facts (e.g., it took 7,000 yards of fabric to make the elephants' tutus). Ages 4-8. (Apr.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
A memorable piece of circus history takes center ring in Schubert's (Here Comes Darrell) fact-filled tale. The author explains how composer Igor Stravinsky, choreographer George Balanchine and circus leader John Ringling North-all famous in their own right-came together to create a ballet for 50 elephants in 1942. Several spreads feature separate brief histories of the three men: readers learn of Stravinsky's misunderstood music and Balanchine's homesickness when he was sent away to ballet school at age nine. North, who envisioned the pachyderm performance, called upon Russian-born Balanchine, who then involved his friend and fellow countryman Stravinsky. A gatefold opens to reveal the momentous dance. Modoc lifts ballerina Zorina in his trunk in a standout painting that recalls Toulouse-Lautrec's Moulin-Rouge posters; he and the other elephants "wore fluffy pink tutus and jeweled headbands." (The World's Greatest Elephant, reviewed below, offers a chilling backstory to elephant star Modoc's tale.) Parker's (Cold Feet) ethereal artwork evokes the lightness and movement of ballet, as watercolors bleed out of the pen-and-ink outlines. While the narrative casually uses a few terms (e.g., "bull men," "droshkies") without explanation, and the artists' backgrounds may seem like a bit of a detour, Schubert manages to put the show in a broader cultural context. Author notes contain black-and-white photos of the ballet along with additional fascinating facts (e.g., it took 7,000 yards of fabric to make the elephants' tutus). Ages 4-8. (Apr.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.Children's Literature
The arrival of the circus is always an exciting event, but in April 1942 there began a series of extraordinary performances, 425 to be exact, that included a most unusual ballet. With music by Igor Stravinsky, choreographed by George Balanchine, fifty elephants in tutus were trained to dance a ballet with fifty ballerinas. Schubert offers background information on the famous characters responsible for the incredible show: Balanchine, Stravinsky, and the head of the circus, John Ringling North. Parker's interpretation of this fantasy brought to life is projected with impressionistic verve. His ink line drawings have an electric current in them; his watercolors refuse to remain inside their contours. He can create a purple silhouette of Russian church towers as well as more detailed visions of artists and dancers. The climactic fold-out of the dancing elephants and ballerinas adds to the special qualities of both text and illustrations. 2006, A Deborah Brodie Book/Roaring Brook Press, Ages 5 to 8.—Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz