Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring

by Jan Greenberg, Sandra Jordan, Brian Floca (Illustrator)

A picture book about the making of Martha Graham's Appalachian Spring, her most famous dance performance

Martha Graham : trailblazing choreographer

Aaron Copland : distinguished American composer

Isamu Noguchi : artist, sculptor, craftsman

Award-winning authors Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan tell the story behind the scenes of the collaboration that created APPALACHIAN SPRING, from its inception through the score's composition to Martha's intense rehearsal process. The authors' collaborator is two-time Sibert Honor winner Brian Floca, whose vivid watercolors bring both the process and the performance to life.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Biography, History, Music, Childrens, Art

48 pages, Hardcover

First published August 3, 2010

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is about the making of the famous career making ballet ‘Appalachian Spring’ by Martha Graham and music my Aaron Copland, but his career was already made. It premiered in 1944. I do like Martha Graham. This was a nice story for older audiences who are into the creative process and life. It does a good job of telling the frustrations of bringing something new to life and having to do it over and over to get it correct. The artwork in the book is great at conveying motion and dancers.

This is a great book for me, but not for the nephew. The nephew didn’t understand the point and he isn’t into this kind of ‘uncool’ dance as he calls it. We were watching this season of American Idol and that is cool dance. He gave this 1 star. The niece is interested in dance and she appreciated this. She gave it 3 stars. She was interested in the fact that Martha had to do things over and over again to get it right. We spoke about perfection and the way to achieve it is to do things over again, not one and done. I think the niece needed to hear that.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much more than I’d expected.

For one thing, the illustrations are glorious! Almost every picture is like a painting I was pleased to view. The way dance and movement are shown was lovely, as are the settings and all the people.

The book has one of the best end notes I’ve ever read, appropriately titled Curtain Call. Mini but very informative biographies are given of Martha Graham, Aaron Copland, and Isamu Noguchi; these were the three people who collaborated on the ballet Appalachian Spring. I learned that the Martha Graham Company was the first integrated dance company in the United States, and many other interesting things.

The story of Martha Graham’s inspiration for creating this ballet and how she worked with the other two creators is an interesting study of how collaboration works. Graham's story says a lot about the creative process and about being true to your vision, and about how emotion can be expressed through art.

There is a large section of the book that shows and tells the story of the ballet, and I think that would be of most interest to those who’ve seen the ballet, are about to go to that ballet, and to dancers.

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never thought a book about a ballet could work, but it did. The collaboration process between choreographer, composer, and artist was described. The story and dance movements and music were described. The illustrations are expressive and graceful.

I fell in love with the music to Appalachian Spring when I was in high school, so it was exciting for me to read about the dance that goes with it. I hope I can see it some day!

Thanks to my long-suffering four-year-old son for sitting through this one; it was definitely for me.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Authors Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan, and illustrator Brian Floca have collaborated on this wonderful picture-book tribute to another artistic collaboration, one which brought together the story idea and choreography of Martha Graham, the musical composition of Aaron Copland, and the set design of Isamu Noguchi, to produce the wonderful American ballet, Appalachian Spring. With a simple, but effective narrative, and gorgeously expressive illustrations, Ballet for Martha really communicates the creative vision of the three artists behind this landmark ballet, and how that vision was born out of working together.

I found this book unexpectedly engaging - not that I'd expected to dislike it, exactly, but I certainly wasn't prepared for how much I enjoyed it! - and came away with a greater appreciation for all three artists depicted. They each seem extraordinary in their own way - something highlighted, not just in the main narrative, but in the informative afterword as well. I didn't know that Martha Graham's dance troupe was the first to be integrated, or that Aaron Copland had been targeted by the McCarthy hysteria, or that Isamu Noguchi volunteered to join Japanese-Americans being interned in American concentration camps, during World War II. Obviously, I didn't know much! I'm glad to have learned a little bit about these figures, and hope to learn more about them in the future - something I imagine that young readers will feel as well. Recommended to all young ballet, music and art lovers, particularly those interested in these fields, and how they have developed in America.

[Sara Hannon]

1. Informational

2. This book tells the story of how conductor Aaron Copland, dancer Martha Graham, and artist Isamu Nogucho collaborated to create one of the most enduring and beautiful ballets ever preformed.

3. This book does a very nice job of showing the process behind the creation of Appalachian Spring. The best aspect of the book is that it explains how this collaboration worked. For example they talk about how "Aaron's music suggests the movement, fires the dancers' imaginations, dares them to do more. Martha tells them to listen with their bodies" (pg. 16). This is not simply "Aaron sent the music to Martha and she made up a dance". It is more like Aaron sent the music and the dancers are listening to it to guide their movements, they try things again and again, changing this, changing that until they get the right move down. And this minimalist set is that way not so that it does not get in the way of the dancers, but because Nogucho and Martha collaborated to give it the feel of being new, not yet finished, barely started, like the life of her ballet dancer. The ballet itself is described in that same way. It is never: "and the bride dances solo", it is: "she prances in quick small steps" (pg 35). The very descriptive, step-by-step journey the ballet goes on in this book is excellent, it makes understanding it so much easier and fun.

4. This is a nice book to have around the house or in the classroom, it reads a bit like a fiction book but it is factual, so it would be great to use as an introduction to non-fiction. It isn't boring or dry, it is very lively and descriptive and the illustrations are very pretty. You could also show a video of the ballet to compare the original creation to whatever incarnation exists today.

[Robert Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly had never heard of the modern American ballet "Appalachian Spring", let alone have seen it performed. So, this was all new to me. I am a big fan of Isamu Noguchi, however, and I learned something new about his collaborating with Martha Graham in the production of what would become "an American masterpiece."

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting cultural biography. I love reading children’s books like this aloud to the family to expand our understanding of the world and historical arts.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collaboration. True life stories of collaboration told in a picture book format. It’s a challenge that I give myself: Name such stories off the top of your head. If you’re a children’s librarian then surely you can think of one or two, yes? So I start to think about it. Let’s see . . . well, there was Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride, but that was more a story about two strangers meeting nicely than a tale of collaboration (the same could be said for When Harriet Met Sojourner). It shouldn’t be that hard to think of such stories though, right? I mean, we’re constantly telling our kids that cooperation is an essential skill. We teach them to share. We (hopefully) give them the chance to learn about the essential give and take that exists when two or more people try to create something new together. Yet my mind is a perfect blank until I look over and see my copy of Ballet for Martha perched on the arm of my chair. The tale of how a dancer, a composer, and an artist/set designer is a true story that shows how professional adults can work together, regardless of differences in background, ethnicity, or experience.

“Sometimes art is made by one artist, working alone, but sometimes it is the result of artists working together – collaborating – to forge something new.” New was not an unfamiliar word to dancer Martha Graham. She spent a great deal of her life exploring new types of dance in the mid-20th century. And when she wanted to make a dance about American living, she turned to composer Aaron Copland. With much revision to her vision, Copland wrote for Martha music based on the old Shaker hymn “Simple Gifts”. After that, Isamu Noguchi was hired to create the spare sets for the production. The show was called “Appalachian Spring” and it has since become an American classic. The kind that can be recreated and reenacted forever, all because three different people got together to make a ballet that displayed their best works. A “Curtain Call” afterword says more about the lives of each of the three artists and a Notes and Sources section includes a Bibliography, Web Sites, and additional Notes.

Now as I see it, it would make very little sense to write a book about the creation of “Appalachian Spring” if you used an overabundance of flowery language. As such, I can’t help but think that Greenberg and Jordan made a conscious decision at some point in the game to write the book with plain, simple text. The words are full of description but don’t overwhelm Floca’s illustrations. Sentences like “The bridegroom twirls with his bride. Then she prances in quick small steps” do an excellent job at conveying precisely what this ballet would feel like to watch. Even before you get to the pictures, the authors have synthesized the show’s process into a scant 48 pages. And while the bulk of the focus rests on Martha, the writers continually pull the focus back to the music, the set, the set, the music. Even if Copland and Noguchi aren’t prancing around the stage with Martha, they’re present in even piece of the dance. They are as much a part of this show as she is. This book works because it doesn’t shove them off to the side or conveniently forget about them. After all, all shows are collaborations. And as the very last sentence reads, in cases where new productions of "Appalachian Spring" are mounted, “. . . the collaboration will be created anew.”

At first I felt that the book was near bereft of conflict. This is Martha Graham we’re talking about. She knew what she wanted, she got it, and she was not a pushover. One has to assume that there were moments of tension within this collaboration. Rereading Ballet for Martha, though, I located those moments. There was the dancers’ initial discomfort with Noguchi’s set, for example. Or the fact that sometimes when Martha couldn’t get a dance right, “She has a tantrum. She screams. She yells. She throws a shoe. The dancers wait. Martha figures it out.” When writing her plan for the ballet to Aaron he had her rewrite her ideas until they made sense. The conflict is there, but it’s useful conflict. The kind that includes the kind of give-and-take you need to work on a single vision with someone else.

When it comes to establishing a time or era set in the past, Mad Men's got nuthin’ on Brian Floca, and you can quote me on that. The man’s range is extraordinary. One minute it’s cute little mice in books by Avi, the next he’s delving into a light fantasy, and then the next thing you know he’s taking our men to the moon. Ballet for Martha reigns Floca in a bit, after the massive success of Moonshot though the two books have more similarities than differences. For example, Floca allows himself the occasional sweeping vista, as when we see the fictional farmer and bride staring out over a vast, near empty prairie. But where Moonshot was all about the mechanics and grandiose heart-stopping breadth of space itself, Ballet for Martha zeroes in on the individual. That’s a funny thing to say, considering that the book is collaboration-based, but it’s true. Floca shows us the human body in motion. From Graham’s distinctive contraction and release style to the ways in which a person moves in a single space. He’s also very good at showing collaborative dancing, where a person is meant to share space and movement with another. In essence, share the spotlight. Which, to a large degree, is the very point of the book itself.

Beyond the watercolors, I was interested in the ways in which Floca uses handwriting to make a point. This happens only three or four times in the book, but it was enough to catch my eye. The most riveting picture, possibly in the whole book, is the one Floca created for Graham’s 1929 piece “Heretic”. There we see a wall of women in black, a single woman in white on her knees before them, and the words “Heretic, 1929” scrawled in white in a lower right hand corner. This imposing use of handwriting stands in contrast to previous page where the black on white writing explains the contraction and release movements so aligned with Graham’s work. The only other real time handwriting is invoked comes when Floca illustrates the orchestra. Though the text explains who is present, Floca’s handwriting touches on each member’s instrument. You might not notice that there is handwriting in the book on a first or second read, but on the third or fourth it catches your eye. Maybe that's why Floca chooses to use it. It's a way of drawing your attention to something in a firm but subtle way. Something to ponder, anyway.

The book would pair very well with individual biographies of each of the three collaborators, like Noguchi’s bio, The East West House Noguchi's Childhood in Japan by Christy Hale or Russell Freedman’s Martha Graham A Dancer’s Life or Mike Venezia’s Aaron Copland (there’s not a lot on Copland out there for kids). Alas, the Bibliography at the back of this book contains a list of titles more appropriate for adults than kids, so you won’t find any of these books mentioned there. Still and all, I suspect that there’s enough information in this book to get some people interested in seeking out the original music (or video of the performance on YouTube for that matter).

Just as the original ballet was a collaboration between three people, so too is this book. Two authors plus one illustrator equals a way of telling a story that is too often ignored. Practical applications for collaborating with others based on real world events in a picture book form? Rare. Books that read and look this good together? Rarer still. A book that works as both a practical object and a beautiful text. Sometimes we just need stories that show us how to make things.

For ages 5-10.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are many books that involve learning skills like cooking and writing and building. Ballet for Martha puts perfect and understandable words to the art of creativity and collaboration. The hard work, frustration, trials, errors and friendship involved in taking the inspiration/idea and making it a polished finished product. The book also gives a brief summary of each artist's life story in the back, which many children would find interesting and inspirational.
This book would appeal to girls and boys because although it is about dance, it takes music and art to complete the production and the musician and artist are both male. I believe the audience best suited would be 2-4th grade. The younger children will enjoy the beautiful pictures and it would be a great book to start conversations with older children who can delve a little deeper. The greatest appeal of this book is that it is different. Teaching children collaboration and the ups and downs of a project and then showing them how the effort was well worth the work.

Awards:
A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
Winner of the NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
An American Library Association Notable Children’s Book
A Junior Library Guild selection
A Booklist Top Ten Art Books for Youth 2010 selection
A Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Books 2010 selection
A Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books 2010 selection
A School Library Journal Best Books 2010 selection
A New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing selection
A CCBC Choices 2011 selection
A Fuse #8 Production 100 Magnificent Children’s Books of 2010 selection
A Horn Book Magazine 2010 Fanfare selection
A Washington Post Best of 2010: Books for Young Readers selection

Greenberg, J. & Jordan, S. (2010). Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring. New York, NY: China by South China Printing Co.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal honor book for 2011, and it was nominated for other awards, so I expected to like it more than I did. Actually, I give this 3 1/2 stars. It was interesting, as I knew little about Martha Graham and still less about "Appalachian Spring." Brian Floca did a creditable job of illustrating the ballet so that the reader gets of sense of how it moved. Still, there's nothing like seeing it live, and I'd love to see a live performance of it. I also appreciated the extra information on Graham, Aaron Copland, and Isamu Noguchi at the back of the book. Combine it with Elisha Cooper's Dance!. Very interesting and recommended.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book about the creative collaboration that led to the ballet "Appalachian Spring" is simply lovely. I love that this account, too, is a collaboration -- two authors, one illustrator -- showing that creative minds working together make beautiful, beautiful things. The illustrations capture energy and movement in a way that's truly stunning.

[Lauren Brant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vivid watercolors dance across the pages of Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring as the words capture the imagination, taking you back to the now famous dance, first performed in 1944. Winner of the Robert F. Sibert Honor, the story follows the thoughts and dreams of Martha Graham, famed ballerina, as she begins the process of creating a story through movement. Through interviews with the artistic directors of the Martha Graham Dance Company, members of the company, musical directors, concertmasters, and more, authors Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan create a simply-written story of the creation of Appalachian Spring. The beautiful watercolor illustrations give the reader a “behind the scenes” look at what it takes to create a ballet. Award winning illustrator Brian Floca includes one-word captions alongside some of his illustrations which help the reader better understand how a ballerina moves. The story is told as if it was in present-day, allowing the reader to carefully follow the creation of the ballet, from mere thought to composed ballet. As the book unfolds, the ballet is telling the story of a young couple settling in a new town, ready to start a new life together, “A legend of American living” as Graham called it. Not only does the book follow the creative mind of Martha Graham, but it also details the collaboration between Martha, her chosen composer Aaron Copland and artist/sculptor Isamu Noguchi who help her bring her story to life.

Readers of all ages would enjoy reading this story. Even a non-reader could appreciate the story by gazing at the chronological illustrations that follow the plot fantastically. I enjoyed the chance to read a book written from the perspective of an insider, which allowed me to see how very dedicated and talented Martha Graham was as a visionary and a unique dancer. The end of the book includes a section entitled “Curtain Call” which provides a short biography on Martha Graham, Aaron Copland, and Isamu Noguchi, complete with real photographs of the three artists at work. A two page spread entitled “Notes and Sources” includes a bibliography and details about Graham’s quotes which are placed throughout the story. I love the ending of the book, which is a large picture of a smiling Graham and fellow dancer Erick Hawkins in the midst of their dance on stage in 1944. Being able to see real photographs from 1944 coupled with bright illustrations makes for a very visually appealing read.

[Amy Forrester · Rating 5 out of 5]

This illustrated non-fiction book tells the story of the creation of Appalachian Spring, one of the most well-known American modern dance ballets, which was a collaboration between dancer/choreographer Martha Graham, composer Aaron Copland, and artist/scenic designer Isamu Noguchi. The book follows the ballet from a story developed by Graham through the rehearsal process to the opening night performance on October 30, 1944. “But the life of Appalachian Spring goes on after the great night / to become an American favorite, / to be danced year after year.”

The text of this American Library Association Notable Children’s Book is descriptive, yet lyrical. Much like Graham’s dancing it is simple and direct, yet layered with contextual and atmospheric information. The length and complexity of this illustrated book make it suitable for upper elementary through high school students. A few pages are spent on each of the collaborators, however as the title suggests, all interactions are focused around Graham. The detailed watercolor and ink illustrations depict realistic scenes. The dancers’ bodies are anatomically correct and the movements are specific evoking Graham’s unique style of dance. Several pages are devoted to a detailed, linear description of the ballet itself. Floca uses a combination of small images that convey sequences of movement, as well as larger images that plant the dancers in the context of Noguchi’s minimalist set. The text is careful to describe the movement and present possible ideas, but it does not limit the reader to one interpretation of the ballet. The back matter includes biographical information about the three collaborators, extensive and detailed notes and sources, and a black and white photograph of the original production of the ballet.

Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...

[L12_sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful book tells the story of how Aaron Copland's iconic piece, "Appalachian Spring," was created. It descrbies the collaborative efforts of composer Aaron Copland, chereographer Martha Graham and set designer Isamu Noguchi to create a modern ballet that tells the legend of American living--a pioneer traveling westward toward the frontier to start a new life. Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring describes the artistic process that each creator went through as well as how the three pieces of the puzzle came together to form a beautiful ballet that instantly became a favorite when it was performed on October 30, 1944 in Washington, D.C. The afterword explains that this ballet is considered a classic and still performed to this day, and gives more information on Copland, Graham and Noguchi.

As I read this book, I put on Appalachian Spring so that I could listen to it as I read about its creation. It was so interesting to hear the song develop as I learned what story it was telling. Doing a similar thing with a class as the book is read-aloud would be a worthwhile experience! Students in grades 1-4 would best appreciate this story, which could be read during reading/literacy, or during a cross curriculuar lesson on art/dance, or during a unit on music or famous American composers, like Aaron Copland.

I love Aaron Copland, so I was probably more interested than most in hearing about how one of his iconic songs was written, especially since I had no idea about its background. However, anyone vaguely familiar with classical American music has probably heard of Appalachian Spring or Copland's other classic works--"Fanfare for the Common Man" and "Hoe Down" (popularly thought of as the "Beef: It's What's for Dinner" theme song)--and would also probably enjoy and appreciate this story.

[Crystal Bandel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan, illustrated by Brian Floca, published 2010.

Nonfiction.

Picture book.

Grades 2-6.

Found via School Library Journal, reviewed by Cheri Dobbs.

Ballet for Martha tells the story of the creation of "Appalachian Spring," a famous ballet about the American experience. "Appalachian Spring" was the result of collaboration between the choreographer Martha Graham, the composer Aaron Copeland, and the set designer Isamu Noguchi, and this book shows how all of their efforts came together to make this ballet. The illustrations are all pen and watercolor, but they do an excellent job of conveying the passion the creators felt and the beauty of each part of the final ballet. The text is detailed enough to provide important information about each creator's role, but these details may make the book difficult for beginning readers, meaning the book should be used with middle or upper elementary students, despite its picture book format. Reviewers Dobbs emphasizes the usefulness of the text, stating, "Fascinating details about the collaboration among Graham, Copland, and Isamu Noguchi (set design) are well documented in the lengthy "curtain call," notes, and resources pages, which read like a fantastic set of liner notes." As long as one accounts for the reading level of this book, it should be a good resource for elementary students learning about "Appalachian Spring," as it conveys key information about the ballet while still being engaging.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ballet for Martha describes the creation of the ballet “Appalachian Spring.” It explains how Martha Graham and others worked together to create the dance as well as what the ballet means. Overall, it is an account of the collaboration that led to “Appalachian Spring.”
The information in the book is accurate, and there are many sources cited at the end of the story, showing the reader exactly where the information came from. The information is organized and the story is easy to follow. The illustrations are appealing and appropriate for children of all ages. The author makes the process of creating the ballet seem very interesting and captures the beauty of dance perfectly.
As a former dancer, I really related to this book, and I think it did a great job explaining the process and work that goes into creating a dance. It is not easy, but it comes from the heart, and this book makes that very clear. I would recommend this to teachers who are trying to get their students interested in the arts, beyond the usual focus of tactile or visual art. It’s also a good topic to examine when teaching different forms of exercise or different hobbies.

[Katherine Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

1) Book summary, in your own words (3 pts)
-Through this picture book students learn about respected choreographer, Martha Graham, and the creation of her most famous performance, Appalachian Spring. This book gives children an insight on all the work that goes into ballet and other performances. It can help give students a greater understanding or appreciation of the arts and the all the people who help create them.
2) Grade level, interest level, lexile (1 pt)
-2nd grade
3) Appropriate classroom use (subject area) (1 pt)
-Arts/Music/Theater Classroom
4) Individual students who might benefit from reading (1 pt)
-Students who love dance, ballet, plays, etc.
5) Small group use (literaturecircles) (1 pt)
-Students can get into groups and read the book, then try to compose their own ballet/to performance to share with the class.
6) Whole class use (read aloud) (1 pt)
-Carpet or popcorn reading
7) Related books in genre/subject or content area (1 pt)
-The Day the Crayons Quit
8) Multimedia connections (audio book, movie) available (1 pt)
-None available

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring" will appeal to girls who like ballet and dance. It would also be an excellent resource in a music classroom that is studying Aaron Copeland's "Appalachian Spring" music. This book explains how one of the most famous American musical compositions of the 1940s was created, through Martha Graham's vision. The illustrations capture the struggles Graham and Copeland had in finding the right story and music to create a new kind of ballet. It also demonstrates artist Isamu Noguchi's talent in designing the simple yet elegant sets for the ballet. This book won the Robert F. Sibert Medal in 2011.

[Sara Mostek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audience: Grades 2-6 (girls especially)
Appeal: Powerful story of an American classic, great illustrations
Awards: Nominee of Sibert Informational Book Award, Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book, NCTE Orbis Picture Award, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

[GraceAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Done with breathtaking clarity, a masterpiece of explication of creative process in dance, music, and design, in a way that will capture young readers and hold them. Brilliant.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent! The double-page spread with Aaron Copeland sitting at his piano and the score in the background is a masterpiece!!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spare text conveys the story so well. Well integrated quotes, stunning illustrations.

[Cara Dore]

Title: Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring
Author: Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan
Illustrator: Brian Floca
Genre: Orbitus Award

Theme(s): Movement, Music, Performance

Opening line/sentence: Sometimes art is made by one artist, working alone, but sometimes it is the result of artists working together—collaborating—to forge something new.

Brief Book Summary: Ballet for Martha tells the story of how Martha Graham, Aaron Copland, Isamu Noguchi crafted the ballet, Appalachian Spring. It tells of the creative process in the making of a show, including the collaboration among the choreographer, composer, and set designer. Illustrations highlight the refinement of Martha’s dance steps.

Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature)
Some people think that three is a magical number. In this case, they are absolutely correct. Originally, the ballet known as Appalachian Spring was written, choreographed, and set designed by three talented people: Martha Graham, Aaron Copland, and Isamu Noguchi. Here we have the inspiration, development and production of the ballet as told by three very talented people: Greenberg, Jordan, and Floca. The entire book reflects Graham s sparse, angular dance style. Every element of its text and illustrations is essential and tells the truth about the scene--an ideal that Graham espoused in every step she perfected. Movement doesn t lie, she famously said. Floca has given flowing life to the illustrations that depict the intense rehearsals and the beauty and grace of the final culmination of everyone s work in the first performance of the ballet at The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. His ability to reflect the dancers moves is balanced with his ability to depict emotions on people s faces through the tilt of an eyebrow or a down-turned mouth. Because Graham s style was so radically new and different, many people did not immediately appreciate her talent; still, Appalachian Spring was recognized for the superb creation that it was and became immensely popular--and it has remained so to this day. The authors were meticulous in their research and include biographies of Graham, Copland, and Noguchi as well as detailed notes and sources. The final acknowledgements reveal the number of people who were consulted as this book was being researched and developed. Fine collaboration created the ballet, and fine collaboration gave us this treasure of a book to share with and inspire future generations of dancers, musicians, and artists. 2010, Roaring Brook Press/Holtzbrinck, $17.99. Ages 8 up.
(PUBLISHER: Flash Point (New York:), PUBLISHED: c2010.)

Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, 2011)
The collaboration of choreographer Martha Graham, composer Aaron Copland, and artist Isamu Noguchi to create the ballet Appalachian Spring melded distinctive individual creativity in a product that pushed the boundaries of the arts. Led by Martha Graham, the trio worked together in bringing to life a story to be told in movement and music about a new home, a new family, a new life. A dance about America. Never willing to settle for anything less than the perfection she imagined, Martha Graham rearranged Copland s music to fit the dance, and spurred Noguchi to craft a set spare and angular, like Martha s way of dancing. The story of the evolution of Appalachian Spring is followed by a description of the performance itself, as seen by audiences in its 1944 premiere. Clean watercolor illustrations and the judicious use of white space create an uncluttered visual accompaniment to the text, well-matched in style and substance. CCBC Category: The Arts. 2010, A Neal Porter Book / Roaring Brook Press, 48 pages, $17.99. Ages 7-11.
(PUBLISHER: Flash Point (New York:), PUBLISHED: c2010.)

Response to Two Professional Reviews: I agree with both the CCBC and Egan’s commentaries that the illustrations by Brian Floca match the angular and focused dance style of Martha Graham. Egan’s review praises Ballet for Martha for including biographical information, photographs, and references in the back of the book, which I would agree is a strength. The point the CCBC makes about Appalachian Spring being a “ballet” about America’s unique pioneer history is important— Martha drew her inspiration and focus for the show from this history and it influenced all her creative choices.

Evaluation of Literary Elements: The watercolor-and-pen illustrations are mostly double spread with smaller, split-page panels when isolating specific dance moves. The text is written primarily in third person narrative with the additions of quotations from correspondences among Martha, Copland, and Nugochi. There are many new vocabulary words in this text, such as: lilt, till, rollick, gallop, strut, swagger, rickety, heretic, and more.

Consideration of Instructional Application: Since I have taken classes of Martha Graham in the past, I can demonstrate the foundations of Martha Graham’s style of modern dance to my class. As a class, we could do an activity with the exercises of Martha and integrate a lesson on vocabulary. For example, students could gallop across the floor, impersonate a rickety bridge, cut the air like a saber, and more. I am anticipating that there will be hesitation in my class for this activity because dancing requires a level of comfort with the body and with others. In addition, there will most likely be students with different abilities that prevent them from fully participating. For students who cannot or will not participate, they could do an activity surrounding a performance of a different type such as a circus, a magic show, or a play.

[R Waterfall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, easy to understand picture book about the making of Appalachian Spring. Enjoyed reading!

[Marissa Wooters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great picture book about the making of Martha Graham's Appalachian Spring, her most famous dance. The authors, Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan, paired up to turn this true story into an interesting book for young readers. This book is an Orbis Pictus Award winner. I loved this book and the story. It was such an easy read for me because I used to dance when I was young! This book will definitely intrigue students with an interest or past experience in the art of dance or ballet! I would highly recommend incorporating this book into the nonfiction section of your classroom library.

[Hannah Eudy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a true story about a woman who was a successful choreographer and dancer. I think this genre is a good one for kids because it uses pictures, but also is true. The story often has incentive for people to keep reading, as it does not reflect a textbook. I think what I found was the best part of this story was the illustrations. I would use this book with kids because it is truthful, but relays the truth in a more interesting way which intrigues kids, more so than a history textbook. I can relate to troubles reading about history, but when I am given an easier book, or a picture book, I am much more willing to learn. Text heavy books are daunting and history facts are endless, so a picture book that could help people learn the same messages and themes would be a book that I would use.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture book history of the making of Appalachian Spring and how Martha Graham, Aaron Copeland, and Isamu Noguchi worked together to create the dance, music, and set. The book also walks readers through the basic parts of the performance.

Make sure you read this where you can easily listen to some of the music too! A great read for music history or arts appreciation. Floca's illustrations are fantastic as always and manage to convey some of the movement of the dance. I like the way it shows how collaboration works to create productions. Short biographies of Martha, Aaron and Isamu are included in the back of the book. Getting kids to sit through the entire Appalachian Spring probably won't happen but they should get sucked into reading this and then be curious enough to listen to some of the music too. Or maybe this will get them interested enough they actually would be willing to sit through the entire performance. Who knows?

[Elizabeth Sharer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story follows the quest of Martha Graham as she sets out to produce her most famous ballet, the Appalachian Spring. This dance represents a new life in America. Martha wrote the story, with it taking place in Pennsylvania during the spring as a young man and woman get married. It follows the people involved with the creation of the play and all the work that went into it. Opening night ended up being successful, and even today it is still found on stages nation-wide. The illustrations are gorgeous, and it was clear that attention to detail was a priority. There is movement and expression in each one. This book is worth reading for the illustrations alone. I instantly thought of myself when I was young, as I was fascinated with the ballet. This is a great book, especially one that young ballet dancers may find captivating, despite it being base on a true story.

[Ms. B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pleasant surprise - I am not into ballet and the cover does nothing for me. I had no idea who Martha was; I thought she might be someone who went to the Appalachian Mountains to teach young women ballet.
This is a biography of three amazing artists: Martha Graham; a dancer and choreographer, Aaron Copland; a classical musician and American composer, and Isamu Noguchi; an artist, sculptor and set designer. Together they created Applalachian Spring, an amazing piece of theatrical dance.

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Props for just tackling the subject. Writing about music and dance is hard, but writing well is rare. But the text and art here work together to show the collaborative process involved in making a new dance. Brilliant.

Library copy