Footwork: The Story of Fred and Adele Astaire

by Roxane Orgill, Stephane Jorisch (Illustrator)

Overview

"Informative, with spry visuals. . . . A class act." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

In this fascinating story of child stars who dance their way to knockout success on Broadway and beyond, Roxane Orgill and Stéphane Jorisch team up for a bravura performance, capturing the sophistication, fluidity, and grace of two of the biggest names in dance history, Fred and Adele Astaire. Back matter includes an author’s note, suggestions for further reading, suggested resources, and an index.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763662158
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	03/12/2013
Series:	Candlewick Biographies
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	737,974
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

 

Editorial Reviews

Orgill's lively words and Stephane Jorisch's illustrations, with their delicate inkwork, Art Deco stylings and ingenious mix of black-and-white and color, manage to get the Astaire magic right.
—The Washington Post

Abby McGanney Nolan

Gr 1-4
In 1905, when Fred Astaire was five and his sister, Adele, was seven, they traveled with their mother from Nebraska to New York City so that they could attend dancing school. After only one year, their teacher put them in a show. Next thing they knew, they were in vaudeville and traveling by train with only each other as friends. Although they went through some tough times, they persisted and finally were offered a Broadway show. They wowed crowds in New York and London until Adele married an English nobleman and gave up performing. Fred continued on and became a movie star. This picture-book biography highlights the youthful years of the two talented siblings. The pleasantly written text and appealing, detailed ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations provide a charming glimpse into the world of vaudeville and show the hard work and talent that was needed for Fred, in particular, to become one of the most renowned dancers of the 20th century.
—Carol ScheneCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Focusing on Fred and Adele's childhood and acts, Orgill chronicles the siblings' hard work as child dancers on the vaudeville and small-time music-hall circuits. Interesting details-such as the break taken so that the younger Fred could catch up with Adele's physical development-are delivered in engrossing, if occasionally inelegant prose. ("The children went to school. For the first time, Fred sat at a desk in a classroom smelling of chalk.") The narrative concludes by touching on Fred's success as a solo artist and film star, as his and Adele's paths diverge after 30 years as a duo. Jorisch's digitally enhanced, mixed-media illustrations feature delicately inked line and a color palette evoking vintage costumery-a lovely approach for spotlighting both the dancers on stage and the architectural details of early-20th-century cityscapes. The handsome layout alternates pages of text facing bordered illustrations, with bordered text blocks against full-bleed double spreads. Pair this with aural and visual treats from the performers' stellar careers. (selected bibliography of adult titles, selected discography, suggested films, television, website) (Picture book/biography. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews