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
"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."
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"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
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
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?s a knock on the palace gate, and the prince?s life is never the same.
Caldecott Honor?winning artist Rachel Isadora exquisitely illustrates this retelling of the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale and takes readers to a beautiful African setting?a first for the ?true story? of a tiny pea that changed everything.
Synopsis
A gorgeous reimagining of the beloved Christmas poem, set in Africa
Since Clement Clarke Moore penned this Christmas classic in 1825, it has been beloved by children around the world. Now, Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora sets the poem in Africa, capturing the anticipation and excitement of Christmas 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
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
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
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.
Synopsis
A toddler plays a game of peekaboo, and you're invited to play too. First there's Mommy to find, with Daddy not far behind. Then Puppy comes peeking around the corner, and a favorite toy train brings the toddler to Grandma and Grandpa. Isadora's brilliant, joyful pastel illustrations capture the familiar and cozy people, toys and animals that will delight babies.
Join this sweet toddler in the morning fun, sharing words your baby can repeat and pictures your baby will recognize. Then find out what this toddler sees next. It could be you!
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.