Synopses & Reviews
Pluck a fat bass, play me an ace.
Trumpet a song, groove the night long. Saxophone jive, keep us alive!
When a jazz trio begins playing under a streetlamp, everyone comes out to listen and dance. It's Harlem in the 1930s, and jazz has the power to make them groove. Combining her fine oil painting style with computer-manipulated colors, Rachel represents the shapes and colors of jazz in a tribute to Duke Ellington with a nod toward painters Klee and Kandinsky. Operating almost wordlessly, the innovative visuals are sprinkled with riffs of slang in snappy couplets-telling a bigger story of how the influence of jazz goes far beyond the neighborhood in this book. This tour de force brings jazz alive for the youngest children.
Review
“Veteran author and illustrator Isadora creates another collection of charming vignettes of a delightfully diverse group of preschoolers. . . . These kids are clearly having a lot of fun. . . . The chubby kids refreshingly natural postures and body language set this book apart from renderings of more conventionally pretty children, allowing young gymnasts of all ability levels to identify. . . . Beginning readers will be attracted to the simple text, especially to the single-word exclamations in brightly colored speech bubbles. Readers will no doubt want to get down on the floor and do some gymnastics of their own.”
Review
“Like the authors Bea at Ballet, this alliteratively titled picture book is a gentle introduction to a preschool activity. . . . In the all-around welcoming environment Isadora presents, children are happy and well cared for and are eased into a gym routine with stretches and creative play. The kids are adorably round and smiley. . . . They encourage each other, which may not be completely accurate in terms of toddler behavior but certainly isnt a bad model to represent. Isadoras appealing illustrations feature a multicultural group dressed brightly against a minimalist background.”
Review
“The real joy comes through Isadoras sprightly illustrations. . . . Few other picture book artists have as good an understanding of the toddlers center of gravity as Isadora, and when she uses her expertise to show them hopping, tumbling, balancing, and pretending to fly like birds, you cant help but enjoy the show. Best of all is the page of young gymnasts on the bouncing balls. Each one appears to be enjoying his or her own moment of zen—a bit of private happiness in the midst of a busy class.”
Review
"For the youngest dance enthusiasts, this is a pitch-perfect introduction to ballet. . . . Skillfully balances basic information with realistic childlike characters. . . . Nothing can dampen Bea's enthusiasm for ballet, and she shares it with aplomb."
Review
"Bea and the diverse group of toddlers in her ballet class are cherubic and infectiously enthusiastic. . . . A former dancer and Caldecott Honor artist, Isadora conveys the joy of ballet in a book that's sure to buoy the confidence of beginning dancers."
Review
"Bright, effective, inclusive . . . perfect introduction to ballet for toddlers, who will instantly recognize the peanut-stomached and chubby-legged bodies as their own. Isadora . . . makes this cheery, here's-how-it's-done offering effortlessly authoritative. . . . As delightful for toddlers as Isadora's Lili at Ballet series is for their grade-school counterparts. Fans of Katharine Holabird's Angelina Ballerina series ought to rejoice, too."
Review
"A precious primer from the first lady of ballet books for children. . . . The students' camaraderie is charming. . . . Youngsters will no doubt be anxious for Bea's promised, 'See you next week!' to revisit this warm and inviting ballet class."
Review
"For roly-poly little pre-ballet dancers whose bellies still pop out and whose tights sag at the knees. . . . They may get dizzy and fall when they spin, but Bea knows what's most important: 'I love to dance!'"
Review
"Just the right touch of pizzazz. . . . Isadora has produced many wonderful stories of the ballet for young readers, and this one is as lovely and accomplished. Endowing the dancers with chubby legs and an occasional stumble just raises the irresistibility factor. Enjoy and dance along."
Synopsis
Carmelita loves to greet everyone in her colorful neighborhood. There are people from so many different cultures! They all like to say hello too, so now Carmelita can say hello in Spanish, English, French, Japanese, and many other languages. And her dog, Manny?well, he seems to understand everyone, and gives a happy ?Woof!? wherever he goes.
Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora?s eyecatching collages are full of kid-friendly details like colorful storefronts, pigeons and an ice cream truck, making Carmelita?s neighborhood fun to explore. Emphasizing the rich diversity of America?s neighborhoods, this simple portrait of a child?s day provides a great introduction to the joy of language.
Synopsis
Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadoras irresistible illustrations of enthusiastic toddlers will have budding gymnasts jumping for joy.
Jake and his diverse group of friend love their action-packed gymnastics class, where they stretch, tumble, balance, turn somersaults and so much more. This is the perfect book to introduce toddlers to the joy of movement and the fun of gymnastics.
Synopsis
Caldecott Honor?winning artist Rachel Isadora brings another fabulous fairy tale to brilliant life with her stunning collages. The Brothers Grimm story of the kind fisherman who catches an enchanted fish, and his greedy wife who always wants more, is perfect for these ?give-me? times.
Rachel Isadora?s captivating collage-style artwork, featuring the African landscape and the increasingly turbulent ocean, provides a wonderful new backdrop for this classic story.
Synopsis
Adorable toddlers have fun with ballet
Bea loves everything about ballet class, from putting on her leotard and ballet slippers to bowing good-bye at the end of class. Bright, cheerful illustrations show Bea and her class learning the basic positions and movements and show them leaping and twirling to their hearts' delight.
Caldecott Honor winner--and former dancer--Rachel Isadora, the creator of Lili at Ballet, introduces young children to the joy of dance and creative expression.
Synopsis
Starring an adorable toddler ballet class, this endearing companion to former dancer Rachel Isadoras
Bea at Ballet pares down the classic ballet to its most basic, child-friendly elements, making it perfect for preschool audiences.
Bea and her friends are excited to put on their costumes and dance onstage in The Nutcracker! Bea is going to be Clara, and Sam is going to be the Prince. They will dance in the ballets magical Land of Sweets. Yum!
About the Author
Rachel Isadora began dancing at the age of eight. She trained at George Balanchine's School of American Ballet and has danced professionally. Rachel lives in New York City with her family.
Rachel Isadora has illustrated many books set in the world of dance and theater, including Opening Night, My Ballet Class, Swan Lake, The Little Match Girl, and Ben's Trumpet, which received the Caldecott Honor Award and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award. copyright © 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.
Rachel Isadora began dancing at the age of eight. She trained at George Balanchine's School of American Ballet and has danced professionally. Rachel lives in New York City with her family.
Rachel Isadora has illustrated many books set in the world of dance and theater, including Opening Night, My Ballet Class, Swan Lake, The Little Match Girl, and Ben's Trumpet, which received the Caldecott Honor Award and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Award. copyright © 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.