Library Intern Book Reviews
Review of Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan
Publisher
Flash Point
City
New York, New York, United States of America
Date of Publication
2010
ISBN
9781596433380
Date of Review
2012
Disciplines
Library and Information Science | Modern Literature
Keywords
Children's literature, reviews
Recommended Citation
Schmidt, Stacie, "Review of Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan" (2012). Library Intern Book Reviews. 57.
https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/intern_book_reviews/57
Review
Ballet for Martha tells of the creation of the ballet “Appalachian Spring.” Three people were responsible for its existence: Aaron Copland (the composer), Martha Graham (the choreographer and female lead), and Isamu Noguchi (architect of stage design). Ballet for Martha follows the journey of Appalachian Spring from conception to its first performance. The illustrations in this picture book are wonderfully detailed, joining with the simple, informative text to create a greater sense of the story. Looking at the pictures and reading the story provide a deeper sense of understanding “Appalachian Spring” and the three creative geniuses behind it. Parents and teachers could easily use this in a music education or music history course, perhaps with a recording of “Appalachian Spring”, to bring the music and the ballet alive to the student. Although the age group is from 9 to 12, those older and even younger might find it beneficial. Greenberg and Jordan are careful to include actual quotes and remarks by Copland, Graham, and Noguchi, and have an excellent note and bibliography section in the back of the book. Highly recommended. Stacie Schmidt, Centennial Library Intern.