Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully is a story of a young girl living in Paris100 years ago. She does many chores at her mother's boarding house. Then, one day, a boarder at Madame Gateau's is the famous tight rope walker, Bellini. Mirette is enchanted by Bellini's ability to walk on air, and after a week of many falls", Mirette learns to walk a tightrope too. Bellini is impressed. "'In the beginning everyone falls. Most give up. But you kept trying. Perhaps you have talent as well.'" He gifts her knowledge, trust ,and confidence. In the end, she does the same for him.
Students may feel that learning a new skill is like learning to walk a tightrope. There are many falls. Recently, I heard the slogan: 'If you're not failing, you're not trying.' Mirette reminds us that with the guidance of a safe, talented, and effective teacher--and with self-motivated dedication, children can succeed.
Little Learning Lane has Mirette on the High Wire - Vocabulary Words. My Picture Book Talk for this story is here.
