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Ballet of the Elephants
Sparking watercolors-and-ink illustrations dance across the page and spill out onto a horizontal foldout of elephants and ballerinas spotlighted together--in the true story of "Circus Polka," choreographed in 1942 by George Balanchine, with music by Igor Stravinsky and performances by John Ringling North's elephants. Robert Andrew Parker brings his love of theater, dance, and costume to this captivating story. Leda Schubert's background note includes black-and-white photos of the actual performance.
34 pages, Hardcover
First published April 4, 2006
44 people want to read
About the author
Leda Schubert
22 books9 followersLeda Schubert is the author of several picture books, including Nathan's Song, illustrated by Maya Ish-Shalom; Trailblazer: The Story of Ballerina Raven Wilkinson; Listen: How Pete Seeger Got America Singing, and Monsieur Marceau, which won the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children. She lives in Vermont with her husband and two dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 21, 2022
This book tells the true story of a spectacle that was staged in New York's Madison Square Garden in 1942--when the Ringling Bros. circus and Balanchine's ballet troupe combined forces, resulting in a scene of ballet dancers performing with 50 elephants who were outfitted in enormous tutus.
The history and background of the performance was told factually, but the serious and well-known ethical issues involved with making huge, intelligent, and sensitive exotic animals perform for entertainment was not addressed at all in the text. What had to be done to ship 50 elephants by train across the country, and then have them perform tricks, is grim to contemplate—and period photos of the “ballet elephants” show their trainers wielding enormous bullhooks. (The text only makes references to “taps” being used to goad the performing animals.)
At the book’s conclusion, the author discusses her own love of elephants and admits that animal mistreatment may have been involved in the circus, but she chose not to include this aspect of the story in the book. The author then goes on to claim that most modern circuses treat their animals “very well.” If she would have done even a small amount of the research she did into the elephant ballet show, she would have easily discovered evidence that this claim is demonstrably false. Nearly every animal-using circus has a lengthy paper trail of violations of the Animal Welfare Act. In fact, when this book was published, Ringling Bros. was still dealing with the bad press generated by the leg wounds discovered on two baby elephants that occurred when trainers forcibly separated them from their mothers.
Ballet of the Elephants is a partial look at an historical event. While it could be a jumping-off point for learning further about the history and controversies around using elephants in circuses, I wouldn’t recommend it for the usual very young picture book audience. Difficult topics and unfortunate aspects of history can be addressed with appropriateness in children’s books; there are many examples of this being done successfully. If this book is read to a preschool audience, I would suggest pairing it with another that tells the animals’ perspective, such as When Anju Loved Being an Elephant. This is especially needed because animal circuses are not yet a thing of the past; there are still multiple active touring shows that use elephants and other exotic wildlife.
The history and background of the performance was told factually, but the serious and well-known ethical issues involved with making huge, intelligent, and sensitive exotic animals perform for entertainment was not addressed at all in the text. What had to be done to ship 50 elephants by train across the country, and then have them perform tricks, is grim to contemplate—and period photos of the “ballet elephants” show their trainers wielding enormous bullhooks. (The text only makes references to “taps” being used to goad the performing animals.)
At the book’s conclusion, the author discusses her own love of elephants and admits that animal mistreatment may have been involved in the circus, but she chose not to include this aspect of the story in the book. The author then goes on to claim that most modern circuses treat their animals “very well.” If she would have done even a small amount of the research she did into the elephant ballet show, she would have easily discovered evidence that this claim is demonstrably false. Nearly every animal-using circus has a lengthy paper trail of violations of the Animal Welfare Act. In fact, when this book was published, Ringling Bros. was still dealing with the bad press generated by the leg wounds discovered on two baby elephants that occurred when trainers forcibly separated them from their mothers.
Ballet of the Elephants is a partial look at an historical event. While it could be a jumping-off point for learning further about the history and controversies around using elephants in circuses, I wouldn’t recommend it for the usual very young picture book audience. Difficult topics and unfortunate aspects of history can be addressed with appropriateness in children’s books; there are many examples of this being done successfully. If this book is read to a preschool audience, I would suggest pairing it with another that tells the animals’ perspective, such as When Anju Loved Being an Elephant. This is especially needed because animal circuses are not yet a thing of the past; there are still multiple active touring shows that use elephants and other exotic wildlife.
January 31, 2012
Elephants and ballet? Hmmm...although this is based on fact, I am confused as to the reason anyone would want to see elephants misused and humiliated in this way. In the author's note in the back, Schubert says many of these magnificient animals were mistreated...all in the name of entertainment? I guess it rings true, we have to learn history in order to not repeat its evil.
On the plus side, the illustrations are dreamy with their watercolor majesty. And, the historical references to composer Igor Stravinsky, choreographer George Balanchine, and the Ringling family legacy is interesting.
Unfortunately, I will not be using this picture book for storytime.
On the plus side, the illustrations are dreamy with their watercolor majesty. And, the historical references to composer Igor Stravinsky, choreographer George Balanchine, and the Ringling family legacy is interesting.
Unfortunately, I will not be using this picture book for storytime.
June 16, 2014
Who knew that this existed... I love learning about interesting events in history.
December 12, 2017
Fascinating story, way too much detail for my preschool story time.
February 10, 2018
Beautiful non-fiction children's picture book detailing the ballet written and choreographed for elephants. Beautiful artwork.
February 18, 2020
A fascinating story about an unusual incident in history. My daughter and I both enjoyed this tale (though some of the references required some explanation for her).
August 30, 2023
A colorful historical picture book. I read it to my little sister and she loved it.
May 26, 2008
Format: 32 pages plus one foldout. 1025 words plus 900 words in author's notes. POV: third person, past.
In 1942, 50 elephants dressed in thousands of yards of tulle and silk danced steps choreographed by George Balanchine to music by Igor Stravinsky in the John Ringling North circus. The performance, and the 425 performances that followed delighted over 4 million viewers. Schubert's book begins with the pomp surrounding the appearance of the circus in a town, then flashes back to when each of the principle humans were young and how they came together to follow and create a dream into reality. The language is appropriate for the age group, but the flashback sequence in the middle tends to bog the overall story down, creating a split in the narrative that doesn't easily come together in the end. The endnotes are full of history and links to further reading.
In 1942, 50 elephants dressed in thousands of yards of tulle and silk danced steps choreographed by George Balanchine to music by Igor Stravinsky in the John Ringling North circus. The performance, and the 425 performances that followed delighted over 4 million viewers. Schubert's book begins with the pomp surrounding the appearance of the circus in a town, then flashes back to when each of the principle humans were young and how they came together to follow and create a dream into reality. The language is appropriate for the age group, but the flashback sequence in the middle tends to bog the overall story down, creating a split in the narrative that doesn't easily come together in the end. The endnotes are full of history and links to further reading.
April 21, 2009
Winner of the 2007-2008 Texas Bluebonnet Award, this book filled with watercolor pictures of the true story of the Ballet of Elephants was captivating. When Igor Stravinsky (composer of The Nutcracker) was asked by George Balanchine (Russian Choreographer) to compose a piece of music for John Ringling North's circus elephants to perform to, Stravinsky gladly jumped at the opportunity. My 6 year old listened to the story fascinated by the idea of elephants performing ballet, and was even more enthralled at the end when she realized this had been a TRUE story. Great book for introducing Stravinsky as a composer.
July 15, 2009
Without background knowledge about Depression era circuses, I do not think children would connect much with this book. I think kids would like to know more about the elephants in the ballet and less about the humans.
I am convinced that the only way this book won the Texas Bluebonnet Award is because it was so short, it was read to every child in the state whose school participates in the contest.
I am now suspicious of books where the author's note explaining "the process" is longer than the text of the book itself.
I am convinced that the only way this book won the Texas Bluebonnet Award is because it was so short, it was read to every child in the state whose school participates in the contest.
I am now suspicious of books where the author's note explaining "the process" is longer than the text of the book itself.
December 23, 2008
I absolutely love one-of-a-kind childrens' books about something that very few adults are aware occurred. This book fits that bill to a T! I would recommend this to nonfiction lovers and budding ballerinas. Beauty and grace can be found in the most unusual places, art takes many shapes, and crazy artists get ideas in their head and won't give them up no matter how unusual or impossible they may seem to outsiders!
August 15, 2013
3.5 stars. This was about one of the Ringling's bringing 50 some elephants together in a circus and training them to perform together. He solicited help from Igor Stravinsky (a composer) and a famous choreographer (also from Russia) to create the show. Interesting to learn about the people of the circus and to see how much the elephants loved the people. This one was a little over Natalie's head, even though she claims she loved it. ;)
November 15, 2009
Incredible biography which tells how lives of several different people: circus master, John Ringling North, ballet-master George Balanchine, and composer Igor Stravinsky crossed paths. Wonderful illustrations.
This book has incredible sentences--complex, yet they flow great and read aloud well.
This is a must read PB.
This book has incredible sentences--complex, yet they flow great and read aloud well.
This is a must read PB.
August 28, 2013
This book gives the back story to a ballet, the Circus Polka performed by elephants in 1942. This came about through the collaboration of John Ringling, George Balanchine, and Igor Stravinsky. The illustrations are all drawings, but there is a picture from the the ballet and the elephants included in the book.
April 22, 2014
The story of a circus show of fifty elephants in pink tutus and fifty ballerina's, also in pink tutus that toured 104 cities, in the 1940's.
Fun. You could tell how much the author loved this piece of history.
Fun. You could tell how much the author loved this piece of history.
May 25, 2010
A fascinating, odd incident from cultural history, the melding of John Ringling, George Balanchine and Igor Stravinsky. A good example of how nonfiction opens up the larger world to young readers (especially with a good resource list at the end).
June 1, 2011
This was a cute book about an actual event that happened in the history of Ringling's circus. This book tells the story of how the cooperation of three men create the beautiful and well-known elephant ballet that became a hit in the circus.
June 23, 2012
This is a fascinating story about a collaboration between John Ringling North, George Balanchine, and Igor Stravinsky. The Ballet was preformed in 1942, with 50 elephants, it was called Circus Polka.
I would love to see it.
I would love to see it.
May 9, 2009
The story of how "Circus polka" a dance of 50 elephants and 50 ballerinas, choreographed by George Balanchine, was created.
www.hcpl.net
www.hcpl.net
June 28, 2016
Spectacular. This would pair well with Ballet for Martha, the Raschka biography of Thelonious Monk, or The One and Only Ivan.
August 9, 2021
Exquisite illustrations help tell the true story of a ballet where some of the dancers are real elephants!
October 28, 2010
Step up nonfiction
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews