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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
Would make a great storytime pairing with The Man Who Walked Between the Towers on the day Nik Wallenda walks the wire. Perhaps a video of his famous family could be included too.
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book held my boys entranced through several readings. Mirette is the daughter of a widow who runs a boardinghouse in 19th century Paris. One day a man named Bellini arrives, describing himself as a "retired high-wire walker" and keeps mostly to himself until the afternoon when Mirette walks out to the courtyard and catches him crossing on the laundry line! She begs him to teach her and persists, despite his discouragement. Seeing her determination, he agrees to teach her. Delightful story about a girl who works hard, achieves her dream and inspires others.
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1993 Caldecott Winner
While the pictures are good, I found the target audience might not do so well with so many (bigger) words. I'm not too keen on promoting high wire walking for kids either.
This does not pass the: "Read it again!" kid test (to me).
While the pictures are good, I found the target audience might not do so well with so many (bigger) words. I'm not too keen on promoting high wire walking for kids either.
This does not pass the: "Read it again!" kid test (to me).
I loved loved loved this book as a child...though oddly it never made me want to try to walk on a wire! I guess I always was drawn to stories of children whose questions and hopes are taken seriously by adults. The gorgeous, impressionist-influenced paintings of turn of the century entertainers certainly helped keep me captivated.
The setting is a hotel in France a 100 years ago. Mirette helps her mother who runs a great hotel for traveling artists like circus performers and people in traveling shows. Bellini comes to rent a room and Mirette finds him walking on the clothesline. Mirette becomes obsessed and she starts to practice. After many falls, she is able to walk on the rope. Bellini is sad for her as she will never be happy on the ground now.
We find out that Bellini did all these amazing feats like walking across Niagara Falls and other things, but he started to be afraid and he can no longer walk on the wire. Mirette wants to be a tightrope walker too. I do love the ending here and I love the setting. I adore the French for whatever reason. The artwork is lovely in this story.
The niece thought this was a good story too. This idea of walking on a rope intrigued her and she didn’t think it was real. I assured her people can really do this. She is into body stuff like stretching and dancing and she wants to do that kind of thing. She thought this was amazing and gave it 5 stars. The nephew wasn’t so into the story and he gave it 3 stars.
We find out that Bellini did all these amazing feats like walking across Niagara Falls and other things, but he started to be afraid and he can no longer walk on the wire. Mirette wants to be a tightrope walker too. I do love the ending here and I love the setting. I adore the French for whatever reason. The artwork is lovely in this story.
The niece thought this was a good story too. This idea of walking on a rope intrigued her and she didn’t think it was real. I assured her people can really do this. She is into body stuff like stretching and dancing and she wants to do that kind of thing. She thought this was amazing and gave it 5 stars. The nephew wasn’t so into the story and he gave it 3 stars.
I am not a daredevil in any sense of the word, so I cannot imagine what it's like to walk across a high wire. This riveting picture book gives readers an excellent idea of this courageous act, though. Children will be fascinated by Bellini's exploits and cheer on Mirette as she learns to walk the wire herself.
Read 5/14/15
Lovely story about a young girl learning how to walk on a high wire from a master
Lovely story about a young girl learning how to walk on a high wire from a master