Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova
Written by Laurel Snyder
Illustrated by Julie Morstad
Published by Chronicle Books
Before we get to the story of Anna
Pavlova and the poetic prose of Laurel Snyder, let’s get the obvious out
of the way: Julie Morstad is a treasure. A constant creator of
illustrations that are gorgeous, whimsical and bursting with wonderful
details, Morstad is one of an elite group whose name alone signals to
the reader that they are about to embark upon a journey that will open
their eyes and hearts to great beauty. (Read our review of another
Morstad triumph from 2015, This is Sadie, HERE.)
I imagine that, whenever she releases a book, American illustrators all
over breath a sigh of relief that, being Canadian, she is ineligible to
win the Caldecott medal.
Morstad works her magic once again in, Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova, Laurel Snyder’s biographical picture book of the prima ballerina.
Pavlova grew up poor in Russia, without
much hope of breaking through the strict caste system. And then her
mother took her to see the ballet one night, and her future was laid
out: Considered all wrong for ballet (she was far too thin, and not
athletically built), Pavlova auditioned twice for the Russian Imperial
Ballet School, gaining admittance her second try, and, against all odds,
would go on to become the dominant international star of the ballet
world, and one of the most influential dancers in the art’s history.
She was adamant that, should ballet be available to children from all
walks of life, it could truly change the world, just as it had changed
her own life, and she set out to make that dream real.
world, and one of the most influential dancers in the art’s history.
She was adamant that, should ballet be available to children from all
walks of life, it could truly change the world, just as it had changed
her own life, and she set out to make that dream real.
Snyder masterfully handles Pavlova’s
myriad struggles and triumphs, and relays her story with
impeccable grace and poetry, which are perfectly matched by Morstad’s
pictures.
I read Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova myself
before reading it to my daughter, and though I was impressed with it
thoroughly, I was unconvinced that, with its subject matter and the
scope of its narrative, it would capture her imagination and hold her
attention. I was wrong, of course. We’ve read the book countless times,
and she loves every word and every image.
Swan presents two artists working at the
top of their powers to bring the story of another powerful artist to the
world, and the result is, simply, breathtaking.
The world is big.
Anna is small.
The snow is
everywhere
and all around.
But one night . . .
One night, her mother takes her to the ballet, and everything is changed. Anna finds a beauty inside herself that she cannot contain.
So begins the journey of a girl who will one day grow up to be the most famous prima ballerina of all time, inspiring legions of dancers after her: the brave, the generous, the transcendently gifted Anna Pavlova.
Anna is small.
The snow is
everywhere
and all around.
But one night . . .
One night, her mother takes her to the ballet, and everything is changed. Anna finds a beauty inside herself that she cannot contain.
So begins the journey of a girl who will one day grow up to be the most famous prima ballerina of all time, inspiring legions of dancers after her: the brave, the generous, the transcendently gifted Anna Pavlova.
