Helpful Score: 3
This story takes place in Paris about a hundred years ago. It is about a young girl, Mirette, who helps her mother, the widow Madame Gateau, run a popular boarding house. Mirette becomes enchanted by one of the boarding house guests, Monsieur Bellini, a retired high-wire walker, and ends up as his protegee, helping Bellini to overcome his fear. "Once you have fear on the wire, it never leaves," Bellini says to Mirette. A nice story filled with great paintings, deserving of the Caldecott medal.
Helpful Score: 2
Great book and used in Five-In-A-Row Unit Study.
Helpful Score: 1
Back of book says: Mirette wants Bellini, the world famous high-wire walker, to teach her how to walk the high wire. But after years of performing Bellini is afraid. Can Mirette teach Bellini how to have courage again?
I say: Takes place in France in late 1800s so the slightly impressionistic, colorful, full of action full page illustrations are just right for this story. Author based Bellini on the real high wire walker Blondin, but the story is fiction. Looks at training for difficult feats, helping friends, French life of that era, achieving a goal.
I say: Takes place in France in late 1800s so the slightly impressionistic, colorful, full of action full page illustrations are just right for this story. Author based Bellini on the real high wire walker Blondin, but the story is fiction. Looks at training for difficult feats, helping friends, French life of that era, achieving a goal.
Helpful Score: 1
Wonderful book! Mirette wants Bellini, the world famouse high-wire walker, to teach her how to walk the high wire. But after years of performing, Bellini is afraid. Can Mirette teach Bellini how to have courage again?
