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Ballet For Martha: Making Appalachian Spring (2010)

by Jan Greenberg(Favorite Author)

3.87 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

1596433388 (ISBN13: 9781596433380)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Flash Point

review 1: This beautifully illustrated book combines watercolors which are sometimes small vignettes of the people in this story and sometimes full-bleed vistas, and set scenes. It is the story of the collaboration of choreographer and dancer, Martha Graham, composer, Aaron Copland, and artist and craftsman, Isamu Noguchi. Together, they created "Appalachian Spring", a dance/ballet which debuted in 1944 at the Library of Congress. You get to know the characters, their triumphs and their struggles. It is a unique combination of modern dance and pioneer life. I would use this book to study collaboration, characters brought to life with illustration, set design and dance. Their is wonderful information in the back of this book about each of the artists.
review 2: Ballet Fo... morer MarthaAward: 2011 NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English)Genre: nonfictionAudience: primaryThis book was very detailed and the illustrations are magnificent. They are so similar to photographs that I was compelled to study each one for several minutes. Children would be quite drawn to the life-like characteristics of the pictures. It provides the reader with a sense of actually being in the story and in the time period. For those who want to understand and experience ballet, it is wonderful. I only gave it two stars because it is such a specialized area of interest that I wonder about its appeal to a whole class of kids. I see it as an awesome source for a child who just loves dance and theater. However, as a librarian or a classroom teacher, I often select books with a greater range of appeal, especially for instructional purposes involving whole class and small group activities. The book is very unique and beautifully written, so I can understand why it is an award winner.The twin fiction text I chose is Angelina, Prima Ballerina, by Katharine Holabird. Because Ballet for Martha was recommended for primary grades, I thought of using that as a basic introduction to ballet for most primary age students. I believe the average primary child would be somewhat intimidated by the grown-up text and story line of Ballet For Martha. Following it with a more playful and readable book was my strategy to allow students to enjoy the topic of dance on a level where they are comfortable. Angelina is written at 'Station Stop One' level, according to the All Aboard Reading series. The illustrations are vivid and colorful. As always, I want children to see that there is a limitless range of topics we can read about and the topics can be accessed at any level of ability. less

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