JANUARY 2019 - AudioFile
Emily Arnold McCully narrates her own Caldecott Medal-winning book with emotion well suited to her gently dramatic story. Mirette, the daughter of a boarding house owner, has met many traveling circus performers. But when she sees a new guest, the famous high-wire artist Bellini, walking across a wire strung in the backyard, she is desperate to try it herself. McCully lowers her voice and unevenly affects a slight accent to give Bellini a worldly air, distinguishing him from the other guests. Her accents are not as accomplished as a professional narrator’s, but McCully’s reading is no less endearing for that. Listeners will feel wonder and excitement as Mirette steps onto the wire in the satisfying conclusion. S.C. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
Mailbox Magazine
Tutored by the world-renowned Monsieur Bellini, Mirette becomes a skillful tightrope walker. But when she discovers that Bellini is overcome with fear on the wire, Mirette begins to feel fear and doubt herself. The beautiful blend of art and text in this Caldecott Medal book will touch the heart of every reader.
Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
In this picture book set in 19th-century Paris, a child helps a daredevil who has lost his edge to regain his confidence. Many traveling performers stay at Madame Gateaux's boarding house, but Mme.'s daughter Mirette is particularly taken with one guest--the quiet gentleman who can walk along the clothesline without falling off. Mirette implores the boarder to teach her his craft, not knowing that her instructor is the ``Great Bellini'' of high wire fame. After much practice the girl joins Bellini on the wire as he conquers his fear and demonstrates to all of Paris that he is still the best. McCully's story has an exciting premise and starting point, but unfortunately ends up as a missed opportunity. Bellini's anxiety may be a bit sophisticated for the intended audience and, surprisingly, the scenes featuring Mirette and Bellini on the high wire lack drama and intensity. McCully's rich palette and skillful renderings of shadow and light sources make this an inviting postcard from the Old World. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)
School Library Journal
K-Gr 4-- Mirette's mother keeps a boardinghouse that attracts traveling performers . The girl is intrigued by one silent visitor, Bellini, who has come for a rest. She finds him next morning walking a high wire strung across the backyard. Immediately, she is drawn to it, practicing on it herself until she finds her balance and can walk its distance. But she finds the man unusually secretive about his identity; he was a famous high-wire artist, but has lost his courage. He is lured by an agent to make a comeback, but freezes on the wire. Seeing Mirette at the end of it restores his nerve; after the performance the two set off on a new career together. As improbable as the story is, its theatrical setting at some historical distance, replete with European architecture and exotic settings and people, helps lend credibility to this circus tale. Mirette, through determination and perhaps talent, trains herself, overcoming countless falls on cobblestone, vaunting pride that goes before a fall, and lack of encouragement from Bellini. The impressionistic paintings, full of mottled, rough edges and bright colors, capture both the detail and the general milieu of Paris in the last century. The colors are reminiscent of Toulouse-Lautrec, the daubing technique of Seurat. A satisfying, high-spirited adventure. --Ruth K. MacDonald, Purdue Univ . Calumet, Hammond, IN
From the Publisher
★"Mirette makes an enviable and plucky heroine; young readers will want to pull on their own high-button boots and join her as she dances between the rooftops." —BCCB, starred review
★"A bravura performance." —Horn Book, starred review
★"A satisfying, high-spirited adventure." —School Library Journal, starred review
"An exotic, suspenseful story." —Kirkus Reviews
JANUARY 2019 - AudioFile
Emily Arnold McCully narrates her own Caldecott Medal-winning book with emotion well suited to her gently dramatic story. Mirette, the daughter of a boarding house owner, has met many traveling circus performers. But when she sees a new guest, the famous high-wire artist Bellini, walking across a wire strung in the backyard, she is desperate to try it herself. McCully lowers her voice and unevenly affects a slight accent to give Bellini a worldly air, distinguishing him from the other guests. Her accents are not as accomplished as a professional narrator’s, but McCully’s reading is no less endearing for that. Listeners will feel wonder and excitement as Mirette steps onto the wire in the satisfying conclusion. S.C. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
