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Mirette #1
Mirette on the High Wire
One day, a mysterious stranger arrives at a boardinghouse of the widow Gateau- a sad-faced stranger, who keeps to himself. When the widow's daughter, Mirette, discovers him crossing the courtyard on air, she begs him to teach her how he does it.
But Mirette doesn't know that the stranger was once the Great Bellini- master wire-walker. Or that Bellini has been stopped by a terrible fear. And it is she who must teach him courage once again.
Emily Arnold McCully's sweeping watercolor paintings carry the reader over the rooftops of nineteenth-century Paris and into an elegant, beautiful world of acrobats, jugglers, mimes, actors, and one gallant, resourceful little girl.
But Mirette doesn't know that the stranger was once the Great Bellini- master wire-walker. Or that Bellini has been stopped by a terrible fear. And it is she who must teach him courage once again.
Emily Arnold McCully's sweeping watercolor paintings carry the reader over the rooftops of nineteenth-century Paris and into an elegant, beautiful world of acrobats, jugglers, mimes, actors, and one gallant, resourceful little girl.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1992
23 people are currently reading
2,549 people want to read
About the author
Emily Arnold McCully
191 books74 followersEmily Arnold McCully received the Caldecott Medal for Mirette on the High Wire. The illustrator of more than 40 books for young readers, she divides her time between Chatham, New York, and New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 565 reviews
October 12, 2022
The high wire walkers are an amazing breed of performer. They balance on the smallest of walkways and then add in tricks and props making their feats even more amazing. This picture book about Mirette learning to walk on the high wire is a Caldecott winner and a classic in the read aloud arena. Set for the most part in Paris, the entertaining story is complemented by gorgeous watercolor illustrations. Way to go, Mirette! You are an inspiration.
January 20, 2019
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.
March 29, 2020
Mirette is a young girl who lives in Paris. Set around 100 years ago, we meet Mirette in her mother's boarding house. When a new lodger arrives who has the unusual occupation of being a tightrope walker, Mirette is inspired to learn this precarious pastime.
The illustrations are nice enough but I found the colours a little too garish for my taste and far too brightly coloured to look like realistic scenes from a hundred years ago. This was a nice story and I could imagine this would be enjoyable for a beginner reader.
Read on open library
The illustrations are nice enough but I found the colours a little too garish for my taste and far too brightly coloured to look like realistic scenes from a hundred years ago. This was a nice story and I could imagine this would be enjoyable for a beginner reader.
Read on open library
October 22, 2018
A sweet and generally pleasant enough combination of text and images, although if truth be told whether I personally would actually consider Mirette on the High Wire as Caldecott Medal material, I am not entirely sure (as while I do very much appreciate both Emily Arnold McCully's narrative and her accompanying, descriptive, colourfully evocative watercolour illustrations, there is also nothing truly spectacular presented, just a simple and basic account of Mirette and of course also the Great Bellini on the high wire). Now that being said, Mirette is indeed a plucky and winsome heroine, and the message, the philosophy that one requires not only talent but also desire and courage (bravery) to succeed, shines brightly and more than clearly (although perhaps also a trifle too in one's face obviously). For while the Great Bellini might be supremely talented as a tightrope walker (just as Mirette obviously is), until his young acolyte Mirette helps him surmount his acquired fear of the wire, until she is able to transfer her own juvenile and joyful lack of fear onto and into him, he can no longer really in any way be the Great Bellini (who crossed the dangerous majesty of Niagara Falls on a tightrope, who walked across a flaming wire whilst blindfolded in Naples, amongst other similarly thrilling, daredevil type of exploits).
Suspenseful, informative, a bit exotic and yes, generally engaging, but still Mirette on the High Wire in the end leaves me more than a bit unsatisfied, not majorly so, but definitely enough to consider Mirette on the High Wire, while indeed readable and pleasurable, a rather middle-of-the-road reading experience, as I cannot help but wonder at what caused the Great Bellini's fear of the wire to materialise in the first place, and kind of almost resent not having that additional information given, shown to me (thus, only an average three star rating for me, although if there were supplemental historical information on the Great Bellini, who actually did exist and did walk across Niagara Falls on a tightrope wire supplied by Emily Arnold McCully, I would likely and gladly up my rating for Mirette on the High Wire to four stars).
Suspenseful, informative, a bit exotic and yes, generally engaging, but still Mirette on the High Wire in the end leaves me more than a bit unsatisfied, not majorly so, but definitely enough to consider Mirette on the High Wire, while indeed readable and pleasurable, a rather middle-of-the-road reading experience, as I cannot help but wonder at what caused the Great Bellini's fear of the wire to materialise in the first place, and kind of almost resent not having that additional information given, shown to me (thus, only an average three star rating for me, although if there were supplemental historical information on the Great Bellini, who actually did exist and did walk across Niagara Falls on a tightrope wire supplied by Emily Arnold McCully, I would likely and gladly up my rating for Mirette on the High Wire to four stars).
September 30, 2010
When Mirette meets "The Great Bellini"--a boarder at her mother's boarding house and a famous ("retired") high wire walker, she is very impressed. She loves to watch him walk wires in the yard and her feet are all jittery on solid ground now--she wants to walk wires, too! But soon she learns that fear has entered Bellini's heart and that he feels he cannot perform on the high wire any more. Will Mirette's faith in him, and her youthful enthusiasm, rescue him from his crippling fear?
While the storytelling didn't exactly wow me, it was pleasant and I like the idea that young people can encourage older people and I thought the illustrations were lovely. I can't quite say I found them Caldecott medal-worthy, but they did evoke a wonderful sense of atmosphere and I especially loved one of the final illustrations featuring Mirette and Bellini and Paris at night.
While the storytelling didn't exactly wow me, it was pleasant and I like the idea that young people can encourage older people and I thought the illustrations were lovely. I can't quite say I found them Caldecott medal-worthy, but they did evoke a wonderful sense of atmosphere and I especially loved one of the final illustrations featuring Mirette and Bellini and Paris at night.
March 13, 2022
This is a sweet story that begins in Gateau, France. A widow and daughter run a boardinghouse in this area and have many guests to take care of. This is the story of Mirette, a young girl that sees a guest, a very brilliant man named Bellini crossing the window across the air on a tight rope wire. a sad faced stranger who keeps to himself. When she and the widow's daughter, Mirette, discovers him crossing the courtyard on air, she begs him to teach her how he does it.
But Mirette doesn't know that the stranger was once the Great Bellini--master wire-walker. Or that Bellini has been stopped by a terrible fear. And it is she who must teach him courage once again. Imagine him walking across Niagra Falls, and other high spots like buildings that are high rises. He became very famous for this, then he started to get afraid of falling, fearful he was going to fall.
Emily Arnold McCully's prose and own narration carries the listener over the rooftops of nineteenth-century Paris and into an elegant, beautiful world of acrobats, jugglers, mimes, actors, and one gallant, resourceful little girl. Cute, short story.
But Mirette doesn't know that the stranger was once the Great Bellini--master wire-walker. Or that Bellini has been stopped by a terrible fear. And it is she who must teach him courage once again. Imagine him walking across Niagra Falls, and other high spots like buildings that are high rises. He became very famous for this, then he started to get afraid of falling, fearful he was going to fall.
Emily Arnold McCully's prose and own narration carries the listener over the rooftops of nineteenth-century Paris and into an elegant, beautiful world of acrobats, jugglers, mimes, actors, and one gallant, resourceful little girl. Cute, short story.
January 5, 2020
When a tall, sad-faced stranger comes to live at the boarding house run by her mother in nineteenth-century Paris, young Mirette Gâteau quickly discovers that there is more to this new lodger than meets the eye. Happening upon him practicing the high-wire in the courtyard, Mirette is enchanted, and asks him to teach her. Undaunted by his refusal, she sets out to teach herself, eventually inspiring Monsieur Bellini - the "Great Bellini" himself, once the world's foremost high-wire artist, but now fallen on hard times after losing his nerve - to try to make a comeback.
An engaging tale of friendship, dreaming big, and trying again when things have gone wrong, Mirette on the Highwire was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1993, and it's not difficult to see why. Emily Arnold McCully makes excellent use of color (Mirette's blue dress really stands out, in every scene in which she appears) and light in her watercolor artwork, which ably conveys the atmosphere of a Paris neighborhood, "one hundred years ago," and captures the magic of performing on the high-wire. I don't know that it will ever make any of my "favorites" lists, but overall I found it charming, in both story and illustration.
An engaging tale of friendship, dreaming big, and trying again when things have gone wrong, Mirette on the Highwire was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1993, and it's not difficult to see why. Emily Arnold McCully makes excellent use of color (Mirette's blue dress really stands out, in every scene in which she appears) and light in her watercolor artwork, which ably conveys the atmosphere of a Paris neighborhood, "one hundred years ago," and captures the magic of performing on the high-wire. I don't know that it will ever make any of my "favorites" lists, but overall I found it charming, in both story and illustration.
January 26, 2021
I totally understand why this book is an award-winning book. The story is very uplifting and tells children to never give up on their dreams no matter what anyone thinks or tells them. Mirette was insistent on learning on how to walk a tight rope and Bellini refused to teach her, so what did she do, she started practicing and practicing until she could walk the rope successfully without falling off. This simple act of persistence to learn how to walk a tight rope, her dream, led Bellini to start to believe in her abilities and helped him get over his own fear of walking the tight rope.
November 10, 2022
I can't say enough about the lush and vividly colorful illustrations in this book! It's a mesmerizing view as you try to take in all of the detail. And the story feels original; not some over-used plot that so many books recycle nowadays.
I definitely recommend this one!
Ages: 4 - 9
Cleanliness: nothing to note.
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I definitely recommend this one!
Ages: 4 - 9
Cleanliness: nothing to note.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
March 1, 2010
I bought this for my then-4-year-old niece, a redhead like Mirette, and fell in love with it. Realizing I had given my last copy away, I got it again and re-read it. It still makes me happy, set in Paris of the Belle Epoque, featuring a boarding-house keeper's daughter who gets fired up when she realizes the new tenant is a tightrope walker. When he tells her he has lost his nerve, she undertakes to teach herself. When Bellini sees what she's doing, he begins to coach her, and to consider a return to the wire himself.
The art, also by McCully, is lovely, and of course I'm going to love a story of a young redhead with so much spunk!
The art, also by McCully, is lovely, and of course I'm going to love a story of a young redhead with so much spunk!
March 22, 2025
3.5
Paris, 100 years ago
Ten year-old Mirette must have a lot of determination as well as innate balancing skill to master the art of tight rope walking so easily. Falls are mentioned, but none of the images show bruises, scabs or even dirty clothes. I image that some kids will want to try walking a rope after reading this.
March 17, 2013
1993 Caldecott Winner
This is a really nice little story with great illustrations. And the main character is a brave little girl in her own right....perfect for a brave girls theme.
This is a really nice little story with great illustrations. And the main character is a brave little girl in her own right....perfect for a brave girls theme.
July 1, 2018
I liked the illustrations, but the story just didn't grab me...or the kids.
October 4, 2019
قرأتها انا وحدي ...لا اعلم من سيقرأها من اطفالي ولكنها جميلة ورقيقة ومدهشة في فكرتها ورسومها ... مزيج من سيرة أحد لاعبي المشي على الحبل وسيرة طفولة الكاتبة التي تميزت بحب المخاطرة والإندفاع لتمتزج الحقائق المتعلقة بهما بالخيال وتخرج لنا هذه القصة البديعة
May 29, 2022
I was extremely taken by the gorgeous watercolor illustrations and the story!
Mirette befriends a sad-faced man who moves into her mother's 19th century boardinghouse in Paris. She teaches him to find courage again, and he teaches her to fly.
Mirette befriends a sad-faced man who moves into her mother's 19th century boardinghouse in Paris. She teaches him to find courage again, and he teaches her to fly.
January 29, 2013
Emily Arnold McCully's 'Mirette on the High Wire' is a story of revered fascination, determination, and the power of the youthful spirit. Based on a real-life daredevil that McCully researched, this 1993 recipient of the Ralph Caldecott Medal tells the story of Bellini-a retired high wire artist who retreats to a place of solitude when his career and his enthusiasm enter a state of retreat. Unbeknownest to him, Bellini would soon encounter a young girl named Mirette who slaves in domestic chores at the boarding house run by her mother where he is staying. As secrets about Bellini's past begin to unfold, it seems like pure destiny that these two should cross paths and change one another's life in profound and majestic ways.
McCully's sweeping watercolors add to the feel and mood of the text seamlessly. There are bright wisps of color where elation and free-spiritedness exist, and dark, brooding shades of night when tensions run high and uncertainty lurks close by. This picture book would make a spectacular read aloud for children anywhere from as young as third grade up to the middle school years. It would work well for making predictions, drawing conclusions, and even analyzing how the illustrator's use of color and light texture hint at what's ahead.
This book would certainly work well with other stories where achievement comes after a solid foundation of passion followed by relentless desire to succeed despite setbacks and repeated failures. It would work well on an additional level as well: one that showcases the magic of youthful dreams, and the reality that, yes, sometimes even adults need the opportunity and the freedom to draw inspiration and strength from the yet untethered and innocently naive spirit of children.
McCully's sweeping watercolors add to the feel and mood of the text seamlessly. There are bright wisps of color where elation and free-spiritedness exist, and dark, brooding shades of night when tensions run high and uncertainty lurks close by. This picture book would make a spectacular read aloud for children anywhere from as young as third grade up to the middle school years. It would work well for making predictions, drawing conclusions, and even analyzing how the illustrator's use of color and light texture hint at what's ahead.
This book would certainly work well with other stories where achievement comes after a solid foundation of passion followed by relentless desire to succeed despite setbacks and repeated failures. It would work well on an additional level as well: one that showcases the magic of youthful dreams, and the reality that, yes, sometimes even adults need the opportunity and the freedom to draw inspiration and strength from the yet untethered and innocently naive spirit of children.
September 19, 2013
While this was a Caldecott Medal winner, I didn't really love this book. I liked the watercolor paintings, but the story wasn't captivating. It wasn't boring, but it didn't exactly keep me wanting to turn the pages. The story focuses on Mirette, a young girl in a French boardinghouse, who aspires to be like the famous wire-walker Bellini. After watching Bellini day after day, Mirette sneaks onto Bellini's wire and tries wire-walking herself. After getting caught by Bellini, both are surprised as to how good Mirette is at walking on the wire. Mirette wants to travel with Bellini, but he tells her no. At a performance by Bellini, Mirette ends up on the wire and impresses everyone. Mirette ends up travelling with Bellini after all. I think this book would appeal to ages 6-9 and would be a good book to read aloud since the illustrations are very interesting and beautiful. I was impressed by the illustrations, but I wasn't as fond of the story.
September 11, 2013
Mirette on the High Wire is a story about a young girl in 19th century Paris and a famous high-wire walker who comes to stay at her mother's boarding house.
A nice curriculum connection for this book might be to compare it with Mordecai Gernstein's, "The Man Who Walked Between Two Towers" and discuss the differences between fiction and non-fiction.
I really liked the themes explored here of perseverance and courage to overcome fears. The relationship between Mirette and the great Bellini was sweet and it was gratifying to see him take responsibility in his role as a mentor.
McCully is an accomplished artist who uses luscious watercolor illustrations throughout the book. Mirette's beautiful red hair and colorful frocks are a treat to look at as she learns on the high-wire.
The intended audience for this book would be kindergarten through third grade.
A nice curriculum connection for this book might be to compare it with Mordecai Gernstein's, "The Man Who Walked Between Two Towers" and discuss the differences between fiction and non-fiction.
I really liked the themes explored here of perseverance and courage to overcome fears. The relationship between Mirette and the great Bellini was sweet and it was gratifying to see him take responsibility in his role as a mentor.
McCully is an accomplished artist who uses luscious watercolor illustrations throughout the book. Mirette's beautiful red hair and colorful frocks are a treat to look at as she learns on the high-wire.
The intended audience for this book would be kindergarten through third grade.
October 10, 2016
1993 Caldecott Medal - Favorite Illustration: I love when Mirette goes out to get the sheets from the line and sees Bellini rope-walking for the first time! The sheets blowing in the wind are beautiful and the look of astonishment on Mirette's face is so cute.
Mirette works hard in a bed and breakfast with her mother, serving circus performers and entertainers. One day, a tired man comes to rest and starts a special friendship with Mirette as she learns how to tight rope walk. However, Bellini has a secret, and Mirette is determined to help him overcome his fears.
The illustrations in this book are sweet and lovely, and perfectly match the storyline of the brave little girl and her teacher. At times, they even remind me a little of Impressionism, which is perfect for a story set in France 100+ years ago.
Mirette works hard in a bed and breakfast with her mother, serving circus performers and entertainers. One day, a tired man comes to rest and starts a special friendship with Mirette as she learns how to tight rope walk. However, Bellini has a secret, and Mirette is determined to help him overcome his fears.
The illustrations in this book are sweet and lovely, and perfectly match the storyline of the brave little girl and her teacher. At times, they even remind me a little of Impressionism, which is perfect for a story set in France 100+ years ago.
September 1, 2016
1. Mirette is a young Parisian girl whose mother owns a boardinghouse for travelling performers. One night, a tightrope walker named Bellini checks in. Over his stay, Mirette convinces him to teach her how to tightrope walk, and they discover a friendship along the way.
2. 4-8, PreK-3, Lexile 580
3. This would be a great book to use in guidance for a lesson on perseverance and courage.
4. Individual students could benefit from this if they are having a difficult time with motivation and wanting to learn.
5. This book would work well in small groups for character analysis and theme discussions.
6. I could use this as a read-aloud just for fun or to begin a discussion on courage.
7. "The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge" by Hildegarde H. Swift
8. No multimedia connections
2. 4-8, PreK-3, Lexile 580
3. This would be a great book to use in guidance for a lesson on perseverance and courage.
4. Individual students could benefit from this if they are having a difficult time with motivation and wanting to learn.
5. This book would work well in small groups for character analysis and theme discussions.
6. I could use this as a read-aloud just for fun or to begin a discussion on courage.
7. "The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge" by Hildegarde H. Swift
8. No multimedia connections
October 14, 2016
A story of a young girl that learns to walk the tightrope form the master of tightrope walking, the great Bellini. He thinks she is too young to learn but her determination and courage persuade him to teach her. But poor Bellini is suffering from terrible fear.
Here is what I really liked about this book: Mirette showed courage, determination and fortitude as she learned to walk on the tightrope. Moreover, she showed compassion and concern when she helped Bellini overcome his fear. She had big dreams and she worked to accomplish them.
I thought the illustration of both of them on the wire was breathtaking and powerful.
Love this line: "Bellini's fear was like a cloud casting its black shadow on all she had learned from him."
Here is what I really liked about this book: Mirette showed courage, determination and fortitude as she learned to walk on the tightrope. Moreover, she showed compassion and concern when she helped Bellini overcome his fear. She had big dreams and she worked to accomplish them.
I thought the illustration of both of them on the wire was breathtaking and powerful.
Love this line: "Bellini's fear was like a cloud casting its black shadow on all she had learned from him."
September 29, 2016
This is a lovely tale of a tight rope or high wire walker who inspires a little girl to try it for herself.
The illustrations are colorful and yet muted, soft and as good as you'd expect for a Caldecott winning book.
The story is exciting, especially as you get to the anticipated ending. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
This book was featured in the October 2016 - Quarterly Caldecott discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
The illustrations are colorful and yet muted, soft and as good as you'd expect for a Caldecott winning book.
The story is exciting, especially as you get to the anticipated ending. We really enjoyed reading this book together.
This book was featured in the October 2016 - Quarterly Caldecott discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
October 6, 2017
This book tells the story of a young girl whose talent for walking the high wire is discovered when Bellini, a famous tight-rope walker, comes to stay at her widowed mother’s boarding house. Bellini has developed a fear that prevents him from performing, which Mirette, through her persistence and determination, helps him to overcome. The plot reminds me somewhat of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which also focuses on a child helping an adult overcome an emotional roadblock. I’m not sure the picture book audience can relate to that kind of plotline, but the illustrations are very beautiful. Of the two high wire books on the list, however, my favorite is definitely Gerstein’s
September 19, 2015
Amazing. Stunning. I can't praise this book enough.
The story was wonderful - little girl sets her mind to something, dedicates herself to it, makes sacrifices to succeed and eventually figures it out. Unwillingly retired superstar steps into a mentorship role and gets his act together.
The pictures were breathtaking - gorgeous watercolors that really made the story. I could picture even the things that were happening between the pages because the world was so well detailed!
And the picture on the next-to-last page, of Mirette walking to a kneeling Bellini, was just captivating. I would buy a print of that just to hang on my wall!
The story was wonderful - little girl sets her mind to something, dedicates herself to it, makes sacrifices to succeed and eventually figures it out. Unwillingly retired superstar steps into a mentorship role and gets his act together.
The pictures were breathtaking - gorgeous watercolors that really made the story. I could picture even the things that were happening between the pages because the world was so well detailed!
And the picture on the next-to-last page, of Mirette walking to a kneeling Bellini, was just captivating. I would buy a print of that just to hang on my wall!
September 23, 2018
The 1993 Caldecott Winner;
I had read this book as a kid and do remember it, mainly because of its tie-ins to the arts;
The story is set in France, telling of a boardinghouse keeper's daughter, Mirette, and the unique guests they serve, including famed tight-rope walker, Bellini;
When Mirette wants Bellini to teach her nimble feet to learn how to Tight-rope, Bellini's nerves of steel are tested. Mirette also must test and practice! practice! practice!
A moment of truth will test BOTH Bellini and Mirette's strength, emotions and dedication.
Beautiful illustrations based off some classic French artists; good read aloud;
I had read this book as a kid and do remember it, mainly because of its tie-ins to the arts;
The story is set in France, telling of a boardinghouse keeper's daughter, Mirette, and the unique guests they serve, including famed tight-rope walker, Bellini;
When Mirette wants Bellini to teach her nimble feet to learn how to Tight-rope, Bellini's nerves of steel are tested. Mirette also must test and practice! practice! practice!
A moment of truth will test BOTH Bellini and Mirette's strength, emotions and dedication.
Beautiful illustrations based off some classic French artists; good read aloud;
August 3, 2018
I wish I was more interested in this book, because it feels like I should be. A few illustrations in particular are just wonderful, charming and excellent storytellers.
A bit on the wordy side, but, not too wordy for first graders or somewhere around there.
I believe the Bellini in this book is meant to be Henry Bellini, but, I could not find anything about the boardinghouse, so perhaps that bit is fiction.
I really wish some sort of historical note would have been included, it feels that would have been a good fit for the book.
A bit on the wordy side, but, not too wordy for first graders or somewhere around there.
I believe the Bellini in this book is meant to be Henry Bellini, but, I could not find anything about the boardinghouse, so perhaps that bit is fiction.
I really wish some sort of historical note would have been included, it feels that would have been a good fit for the book.
October 6, 2016
I liked the colorful watercolor paintings, but am not sure why these particular illustrations were deemed more worthy than the many other picture books she has illustrated. But they were very successful at enhancing the story. I admired the young girl with the courage to walk a high wire; I certainly would never try anything so risky! And I admired the way she encouraged Bellini to get over his fear. An inspiring story.
August 19, 2015
Every once in a while I hit a picture book where the illustrations match the story so perfectly that I have to take a moment to just enjoy the perfect harmony of each page. Mirette is such a book. I love the child and feel her energy. I feel the tiredness and fear of Bellini. And I experience the joy and wonder of the ending where everything comes together so perfectly. Truly this is an enjoyable book, and well worth the Caldecott medal.
June 14, 2012
The Great Bellini, a celebrated wire-walker, stays in the boarding house that Mirette's mother owns. Enchanted by Bellini's skills, she begs for lessons and learns to walk the wire as well. Though Bellini was a real person and his actual feats are described, the story about Mirette is fiction.
Recommended for primary elementary students.
Recommended for primary elementary students.
March 30, 2015
I thought this book did a bad job at parenting. I do not think I would allow my young daughter to perform tight rope acts or even attempt to do so, but I did enjoy that Mirette gave back Belini's his drive to get back into the art of walking on a tight rope.
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