Synopses & Reviews
A magic cloak. A hidden passage.
A secret underground world beyond imagining.
Night after night, the princesses mysteriously wear out their shoes. But how are they doing it? The baffled king promises a great reward to any man who can solve the mystery.
From the colorful flurry of the princesses? dressing room to a captivating nighttime scene on an underground lake, Rachel Isadora has revitalized and reimagined this well-loved Brothers Grimm fairy tale by bringing the story of the twelve princesses to Africa. Her collage of blazing colors, rich textures and dramatic shapes evoke the patterns and palette of this beautiful continent. Returning to the lush setting of The Princess and the Pea, the unique presentation of this classic tale is sure to enchant readers with its vibrant imagery.
Review
An innovative interpretation of a timeless tale.
Publishers WeeklyReview
"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
A Caldecott Honor?winning illustrator gives this classic fairy tale a brand?new setting!
Night after night, the twelve princesses mysteriously wear out their shoes. But how? The king promises a great reward to any man who can solve the mystery. Rachel Isadora has revitalized and reimagined this well-loved Brothers Grimm fairytale by bringing the story of the twelve princesses to Africa. The unique presentation of this classic tale is sure to enchant readers with its vibrant imagery.
Synopsis
Set in Africa, this beautiful rendition of the classic Christmas carol has a unique twist: colorful icons illustrate the various gifts repeated in each verse of this cumulative song, creating a rebus-style text that gives young children a fun way to follow along and chime in with the lyrics. The gorgeous, wonderfully detailed collage illustrations, comprised of colorful kente cloth and cut paper, feature tribal drummers and dancers, traditional clothing and native wildlife, making every scene as visually striking as the last.
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
The gorgeous reimagining of the classic Christmas tale with Rachel Isadora's signature twist!
Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora sets her colorful, unique version of this well-known Christmas poem in Africa, capturing the anticipation and excitement of the holiday in her stunning collages. Children will pore over the enchanting artwork--brimming with special touches like traditional African toys and a Santa who sports dreadlocks--as they chime along with the familiar rhyming text.
Synopsis
Set in the wilds of Africa, Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora's stunning interpretation of the beloved Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale portrays African animals and landscapes with beautiful detail. As the ugly duckling searches for a place where he can fit in, Isadora's vibrant collages capture the beauty in everything from glistening feathers to shimmering sunsets.
Synopsis
When a prince sets out to find a princess to marry, he soon discovers this is not a simple task. There is no shortage of so-called princesses, but how can he tell whether or not they are what they claim to be? Then one night a great storm rages, there comes a knock on the palace gate, and the prince?s life is never the same . . .
Synopsis
Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora gives readers a stunning new interpretation of this classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale, setting the infamous witch's cottage deep in a lush African forest. Hansel and Gretel's plight feels all the more threatening as they're plunged into the thick, dark jungle of Isadora's rich collages.
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.
About the Author
Yin lives in Queens, New York.
At the age of eight, I was adopted with my older sister from Korea to live with an American family in Hawaii. When I was 22 years old, I had the opportunity to visit my Korean brother and sisters for the first time since I was adopted . It was a happy reunion. (A book about my adoption will be released in due course.) More about my background can be found in several newspaper publications such as the Daily News and the New York Newsday.
I graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Arts from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. I studied Advertising, Illustrations, Graphic Design and Art Education. But painting has always been my passion.
With encouragement and guidance from my good friend, author and illustrator, Ted Lewin, I took my portfolio along with some original paintings around New York City. The first ten publishers I visited did not have work for me until I stepped into the office of Lothrop, Lee and Shephard (acquired by: Harper-Collins Publishers). They have given me my first opportunity to illustrate and author my first children's picture book, Around Town.
My books reflect my interest in people, history and its culture. As with all my historical books, researching at the library plays an important role in illustrating the accuracy of the details I paint into each spread. After researching is complete, I hire models to play the parts of the main characters. Using models allows me to achieve a realistic and consistent look from page to page. Based on my research, I have to make the costumes if necessary. I also act as the model's hairdresser and makeup artist. Once I have taken the photographs, I'll use it as a tool to help me during the painting process. This order resembles much of my idol, whom I like to think of myself as an incarnation of the infamous Norman Rockwell.