Need to Achieve: Mirette on the High Wire

Mirette on the High Wire
Emily Arnold McCully
The Putnam and Grosset Group (1992)

Our tots are seeking competence and many a book is written with a feisty character that  overcomes some obstacle to achieve a great or small feat.

What better book to describe this theme than Mirette on the High Wire.  Our Mirette is named after this zestful, adventuresome little girl.   Mirette's mom runs a boarding house for performers.  Mirette discovers that Bellini, one of the residents, is a very famous high wire walker who has become fearful of his sport.   Mirette begs him to teach her and after much practice she masters the high wire.  In so doing, she cures Bellini of his fear. 

The two go on to have more adventures in Starring Mirette and Bellini (where Mirette fights for Democracy and rescues Bellini from prison) and Mirette and Bellini Cross Niagra Falls.

Needless to say, we fell in love with Mirette, enough so to name our daughter after her.   The beautiful illustrations earned the author, Emily Arnold McCully, a Caldecott Medal.  

Emily Arnold McCully is a prolific illustrator.  Often I'll pick up a book at the library and there's her name.   She is into stories about brave girls, as she was one herself!

http://emilyarnoldmccully.com/emily-arnold-mccully.html

Mirette is a collector's item doll http://www.dollery.com/html/artists/lawton/law9903.htm and is also a musical (though one that isn't preformed so often). http://www.musicals101.com/mirette05.htm.  Here's a link to the music:  http://www.josef-weinberger.com/musicals/musical/mirette.html  For a future discussion on philosophy (ha ha) with your toddler, look here:  http://www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org/wiki/Mirette_on_the_High_Wire

Interestingly, she also wrote books and short stories for adults.  I'll have to check them out.