Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova

by Laurel Snyder, Julie Morstad (Illustrator)

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.

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

44 pages, Hardcover

First published August 18, 2015

About the author

Laurel Snyder is the author of six children's novels, "Orphan Island," "Seven Stories Up," "Bigger than a Bread Box," "Penny Dreadful," "Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains OR The Search for a Suitable Princess" and "Any Which Wall" (Random House) as well as many picture books, including "Charlie & Mouse," "The Forever Garden," "Swan, the life and dance of Anna Pavlova," and "Baxter, the Pig Who Wanted to Be Kosher."

A graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and a former Michener Fellow, she also writes books for grownups, and is the author of a book of poems, "The Myth of the Simple Machines" (No Tell Books) and a chapbook, "Daphne & Jim: a choose-your-own-adventure biography in verse (Burnside Review Press) and the editor of an anthology, "Half/Life: Jew-ish Tales from Interfaith Homes" (Soft Skull Press).

Though Baltimore will always be her home, she now lives happily in Atlanta.

Reviews

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful book about Anna Pavlova, and her contribution to ballet reaching all kinds of people around the world. The illustrations were gorgeous, and the storyline was appropriate for its audience.

[Colby Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are going to read this book, please read it aloud. Snyder's words will sing and dance of your tongue.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Every day must end in night, every bird must fold its wings, every feather falls at last and settles.”

Anna Pavlova was born in 1881 to a struggling laundress. It was a hard life; Anna’s life should have been dismal. But one night Anna’s mother told her, “You are going to enter fairyland.” After seeing sleeping beauty for the first time she became enthralled and wanted only one thing: to become a dancer, but in order for that dream to become a reality she had to leave her mother behind and go to boarding school to learn ballet.

Anna’s story is such a beautiful and inspiring one. These illustrations are gorgeous and reflect a beautiful life lived.

[Laurel]

A childhood obsession becomes a book!

[Emily Scheinman]

This will be one of the most talked about picture books this year. Stunning artwork and beautiful text. I can't wait to see this published!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

حتی نوشتارش هم ریتمیک بود.
۲.۱۴۰۴

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

American author Laurel Snyder and Canadian illustrator Julie Morstad join forces in this lovely picture-book about Anna Pavlova, the celebrated Russian prima ballerina. Inspired by a trip to the ballet as a young girl, Anna dreams of becoming a dancer herself, always attuned to the music of the world around her. Eventually, after some delay, she does attend ballet school, and quickly rises to become one of the world's most famous dancers...

As someone who was familiar with Pavlova's name but not her life story, I picked up Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova with some interest, particularly as I have enjoyed other works illustrated by Morstad. Not unexpectedly, I found it a gorgeous book, visually speaking, and thought the mixed media artwork was superb. The narrative, on the other hand, was less informative, and more impressionistic, telling its subject's story only in the broadest sense, and filling in more details in the afterword. This wasn't entirely satisfactory to me, as I would have preferred a more detailed main narrative, paired with these beautiful illustrations. Tastes vary, of course, so other readers might feel differently, but for me this was stronger visually than textually, and my star rating is more for Morstad than Snyder. Recommended to young ballet dancers and enthusiasts, and to admirers of Julie Morstad's artwork.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I read this book, I had the feeling that this must have been a very special book to Laurel Snyder. This is my favorite picture book that she has done and I want to say this is probably her best to date (in my opinion). The book is a lovely melding of poetic, heart-felt text and beautiful illustrations.

[Laura Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most beautiful picture books I have ever seen/read. And I have seen/read probably thousands of picture books in my life (no joke). I wish this title could win a 2016 Caldecott but I believe the illustrator is Canadian (sigh). The text is simply stellar and the illustrations are swoon worthy. Vibrant, elegant, stunning-perfect for a book about the life of a prima ballerina. I can write pages on how much I adore Swan. It is as good as it gets. Trust me.

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous words and pictures! I love it and I wish it was eligible for the Caldecott!

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a poetic and radiant look at the life of Anna Pavlova, prima ballerina. It begins with her childhood where she grew up poor, the daughter of a laundress in Russia. Then her mother takes her to the ballet one night and Anna’s life is transformed by a desire to dance. She auditioned twice for the Imperial Ballet School, turned down the first time because she was too young. At age 10, she was admitted and studied dance. Her body was considered all wrong for ballet, since she was so thin and not athletically built. She became the most famous ballerina of all time, helped by her tireless work to bring dance and music to those who had never experienced it. The book goes all the way through to her death, where she still longed to perform and dance until the very end.

Snyder’s poetry is just as delicate and strong as Pavlova herself. Through the words you can feel the tremble of desire, the longing for a different life and then the drive to learn and perform. As Pavlova’s story continues, Snyder captures the way that she created a home for herself when Russia changed and the importance of her performing around the world. Her performance as the swan is particularly beautifully captured in words, allowing her grace and particular style to be understood by young readers.

Morstad’s illustrations help with this as well. They highlight her beauty and grace, allow her to shine on the page and dance across it. Her pale beauty and black hair captivate on the page. Other pages show how hard she worked both in learning to dance and then again in a repeating format how hard she worked as a prima ballerina as well.

Beautifully written and illustrated, this picture book in poetry offers a glimpse at the wonder that was Anna Pavlova. Appropriate for ages 6-8.

[Saleh MoonWalker · Rating 3 out of 5]

آنا پاولووا اصولا شبیه به تعریف های متخصصین راجع به اینکه یه بالرین چطور باید باشه، نمیخوره. اولین بار با مادرش یه باله رو میبینه و از همون لحظه زندگیش عوض میشه و تصمیم می گیره کلا باله رو ادامه بده. در خانه تمرین میکنه و در نهایت به مدرسه امپریال باله روسیه میرسه و ستاره میشه. تلاش جالبی که انجام داد در این زمینه این بود که کاری کرد که باله به همه تعلق بگیره و نه فقط قشر ثروت مند جامعه.
تصویر گری های کتاب هم خیلی زیباست، بیشتر کارها با جوهر، گرافیت، خودکار و مداد شمعی انجام شده. پس گفتار کتاب هم ساده، مختصر و خوبه. کتابی خوبیه برای کودکان که نشون بده بهشون که اجازه نده تعریف های عمومی، زندگیشون رو از پیش تعریف کنه.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A luscious picture book biography set in the late 19th century of the Russian prima ballerina Anna Pavlova. The book is tall with an exquisite combination of ink, gouache, graphite, pen, and crayon illustrations. The lyrical text is minimal so readers will need to read the author's note at the back to get the context for the stunning illustrations.

[La Coccinelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't see the subtitle when I grabbed this one. I was just seduced by the pretty cover. This is actually a picture-book biography of Anna Pavlova, the famous ballerina.

The text is sparse but poetic. The illustrations really shine, with their graceful lines and sweet characters. Julie Morstad's style works really well here.

Overall, this is a strong little biography (with an informative author's note at the end). I'd recommend this to readers who like learning about historical figures, as well as to those who love ballet.

[Jessie Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are perfect for the telling of AP's life story. I am going to buy this book & read it again.

[☼Bookish in Virginia☼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna Pavlova was born in Czarist Russia. The daughter of a laundry woman she miraculously became a prima ballerina, a woman who transformed ballet, who brought this beautiful art to the masses.

Syder's and Morstad's SWAN is a gorgeous book. Morstad's artwork is so pretty. So touching and sweet. And Syder's verse makes for a very good read-aloud.

SWAN is a book that I would share with girls .AND. boys, and it's a book I suggest you approach bass-ackwards. By which I mean that I think everyone will get more out of the book if they start with the Author's Note at the end.

That brief note sums up aspects of Pavlova's life that readers are going to recognize in the verse and images... and if they are like me and mine they are going to enjoy the book more if approached in this order.

Snyder, for example, relates how Pavlova's body wasn't considered ideal at that time. She was slim and had a bad back. (This is even more fascinating when you consider that Misty Copeland's struggle for acceptance was just the opposite. Copeland possibly having a physique more like the sturdy ballerinas of Czarist Russia before Pavlova.)

Pavlova also had to reinforce her ballet shoes in order to go en pointe. I really think this author's note is worth reading.

~

This is a beautiful book that is a good read-aloud, and if approached correctly there is much to discuss.

Recommend.

Disclosure: review copy

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was beautiful, and yet I can't quite shake the feeling it's one of those books that was written more for adults and disguised as a children's book. I'm honestly not sure how many kiddos will be as enthralled by the prose and they lyricism of the words as a lot of grown-ups seem to be.
That said, I loved the illustrations. They were gorgeous, and I loved the page spreads that showed the passage of time. I loved learning the story of Anna Pavlova (I'm a dancer, but not a ballet dancer, so I'd heard of her but never learned much more than that she was THE biggest female name in ballet, and that she sort of ruined things for us sturdy girls by being absolutely FLAWLESS while starting the waif-dancer trend) and I loved the list of resources at the end.
So yeah, as an adult reader I LOVE this book, but I'm not sure how many of my kiddos will "get it" the way it's meant to be gotten.

[Andreea Zelenyak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not feeling well today but, I just received this beautiful book, so....I had to do this review, although I can't do it justice!
The book is beautiful, gorgeous...I was speechless for a couple if minutes!
Swan....The life and dance of Anna Pavlova! I'm sure everyone heard of Anna Pavlova, heard of 'The Dying Swan' ...if not....well, I really don't want to offend anyone..but...!
On January 4, 1908, Anna Pavlova performed the Dying Swan for the first time. ''Anna is a bird in flight, a whim of wind and water. Quiet feathers in a big loud world. Anna is the swan.''
The artwork is gorgeous...and the cover is a dream!!!

[Camilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5-3.75 stars!

[Edie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful combination of illustration and text. The large size adds to the importance of the subject and the attention that should be paid. Lots of white space emphasize the movement of the young child....who on a snow filled night sees the ballet for the first time. There's lots of snow which gives a magical effect and movement and the placement of the text almost dances off the page. The story is one of success but also sadness and the colors reflect the somber nature of the story..But when Anna is on stage, there is lots of color. Lovely lovely lovely.

[Elizabeth A · Rating 2 out of 5]

The world is big.
Anna is small.
The snow is
everywhere
and all around.
But one night . . .

See how wonderfully this picture book for kids starts? I love the idea of biographies that little kids can read, but this one had text that was too bland and boring, especially considering that it was a biography of the ballet star Anna Pavlova. The art however is wonderful and folksy and conveys a fairy tale mood that works well.

I'd rate the text 1 star, and the art 4 stars, so that's a 2.5 average, that I'll round down as I disliked the text so much.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations, but the poetic text is obscure. So obscure that the two-page author's note is required to understand what the book is supposed to have told us. I wish the two had been better integrated.

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly beautiful book about a dancer who has fascinated me since I read Gladys Malvern's book, Dancing Star the Story of Anna Pavlova, as a child.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, beautiful story with a beautiful ending. BEAUTIFUL! (now that word has no meaning!!!!)

First reading 20 November 2015
Reread 24 January 2016

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful book should be read aloud so that the poetry of the story can be truly appreciated. Beautifully illustrated as well.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent!!! Inspirational!! Semper Anna ...

[Michelle (FabBookReviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are times when you read a book and, upon finishing, you hold the book close to try and hold that feeling. You want to capture the words from the pages in a jar, like fireflies, and you want the world to be decorated with the illustrations you have just seen. Upon finishing Laurel Snyder and Julie Morstad's glorious picture book Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova, I held the book close and experienced that exact run of sentiments.

Canadian illustrator/animator/designer Morstad, as ever, continues to amaze with her illustrations. Morstad's work never reads as trying to impress or astonish with profusions of colour or scale and noise, but her drawings always light up and arrest the eye and heart. Snyder's text here is just about flawless in its poetry and movement: in tandem with the rippling illustrations, Snyder's words seem to float and dance across, around, and up and down the pages. This is the first of Laurel Snyder's work that I have read, and having been so moved by her writing here, I am making it a plan to read her other children's work.

Overall, I highly, highly recommend Swan. I cannot express enough just how beautiful, moving and full of life the words and drawings in this biographical picture book are. Readers who enjoy non-fiction or biographical picture books such as Enormous Smallness: A Story of E.E. Cummings or The Iridescence of Birds: A Book About Henri Matisse might especially love this title. Moreover, readers (both young and old!) who adore the ballet, ballerinas, or have interest in Anna Pavlova's incredible life and famous performances will undoubtedly be taken in with this stunning and quiet homage. We are now more than halfway through the year, and I think I can safely say that Swan will hold a place on my best of 2015 book lists.

I received a copy of this book from Raincoast Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own.

[Klaudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inhalt

Eine der herausragendsten Tänzerinnen aller Zeiten: Als die kleine Anna mit ihrer Mutter ins Ballett geht, ist sie sofort verzaubert von den Bewegungen, der Musik, dem Zauber auf der Bühne. So möchte sie auch werden! Mit harter Arbeit und einem unvergleichlichen, emotionalen Tanzstil klettert sie an die Spitze. Bis zu einem verhängnisvollen Unglück im Schnee …

Meine Bewertung

Als ich diese Buch von Lauren Snyder in Berlin entdeckte, war ich hin und weg. Es war in der fremdsprachigen Kinderbuchabteilung, und obwohl mir klar war, dass das wohl keine Vorleselektüre ist, musste ich es haben. Allein das Cover mit der wunderschönen Illustration der kleinen Anna von Julie Morstad hat mich verzaubert, ebenso wie die Glitzerfolie, die fein in den Schwanenflügel eingearbeitet ist.

Anna Pawlowa ist als Ballerina bekannt, die fest daran geglaubt hat, dass Ballett für alle zugänglich sein sollte, nicht nur für die reiche Oberschicht. Ihr besonders emotionaler, freier Tanz, insbesondere ihre Darbietung des sterbenden Schwans, haben ihr viel Ruhm eingebracht und sie zu einer Legende gemacht. Das Kinderbuch mit den aufwendigen Illustrationen erzählt ihre Lebensgeschichte in sehr poetischen Zügen und zeigt, wie sich harte Arbeit und ein großer Traum, den man verfolgt, auszahlen können. Gerade die teilweise etwas düsteren Illustrationen haben diese Geschichte gut untermalt und Annas Weg aus ihrem kleinen, bescheidenen Heim ins Rampenlicht der Bühne verstärkt.

Die englische Ausgabe dieses Buchs, die ich besitze, hat einen Schutzumschlag und ist auf sehr wertigem Papier gedruckt, das immer noch seinen matten Schimmer beibehält und den Illustrationen dadurch etwas Bodenständiges, aber auch Hochwertiges verleiht. Obwohl es hier eine Altersempfehlung ab vier Jahren gibt, denke ich aber nicht, dass sich viele Kinder um dieses Buch reißen würden. Dafür ist es zu biographisch und eher für die Nische gemacht. Kleine Ballerinen, die wirklich schon einen Tanztraum haben, könnten hier Freude dran finden, sowie ballettbegeisterte Bibliophile wie ich. Doch gerade für diese Zielgruppen ist diese Ausgabe aufwendig ausgestattet und eignet sich wunderschön, um mal abzuschalten und sich an den Illustrationen und der poetischen Kurzbiographie zu erfreuen.

[Christy Eanes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would use this set of twin texts as part of an art lesson. Swan The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova is the true story of the journey of a girl who fulfills her dream of becoming a prima ballerina. The twin fiction book of Olivia the Ballerina (by Farrah McDoogle, 2013) tells the story of Olivia’s life becoming so consumed with ballet (as a result of her role model, prima ballerina Penelope Twinkletoes) that other parts of her life begin to fall by the wayside. I chose these two books because I think they would complement each other when presenting the lesson on following your dreams to what you want to be. The fiction book could be something of a hook book because it is a silly story about a pig that wants to be a ballerina just like her idol. I think it would help get the students (even those not interested in ballet) to listen along to the antics that Olivia faces throughout the story. Following that up with Swan, the children will learn about the journey of a real girl that followed her dream to became one of the world’s most famous ballerinas. It will teach them that dreams can become reality. After presenting the lesson and reading the books, I would have the children draw a picture of what their dream job would be. Prior to presenting the lesson, I would use a book opening by showing the students the cover of Olivia the Ballerina and ask for predictions about the book. As for Swan, I would read a short passage and have children make predictions about that book as well. For each book, I would ask questions such as “what do you think this book will be about?” and “why do you think that?” While reading the books, I would stop a few times to ask children to check if their predictions were correct and ask what they think will happen next. This is the DR-TA strategy I would use for this particular lesson.

[Jamie Sorenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Subject: English/Literature

Non-Fiction- "Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova"(Published August 18th 2015 by Chronicle Books (first published March 24th 2015)
Quote:“The world is a hungry place, and Anna will feed it beauty.”


Fiction: "Firebird: Ballerina Misty Copeland Shows a Young Girl How to Dance Like the Firebird"(Published September 4th 2014 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers)
Quote:
"I was a dancer just like you, a dreaming shooting star of a girl with work and worlds ahead."


Twin Text: Both books are about girls and women who had to work hard, practice, and danced ballet. They have unique writing styles and beautiful imagery within their words. The connections between the books are smoothly transitioned between two dreaming girls that strive for beauty and grace in their dance. The texts would be great to use for writing class and their word choice.

Strategy: Webbing- an activity that connects a central topic to related areas.

First I would read "Firebird", then transition into "Swan:The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova", discussing the similarities and struggles of the two characters. Then I would do a webbing activity with the students about dance in ballet, and the important words in the two texts. Dance would be a central idea, and the skills and words relating them. In both books they talk about dreams, practice, air, swift, and other words that describe dance and motion. The books both give students a look into an individuals life and dreams while opening up their vocabulary and word choice.