Tallchief: America's Prima Ballerina [Paperback]

Maria Tallchief (Author), Rosemary Wells (Author), Gary Kelley (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Growing up on the Osage Indian reservation, Maria Tallchief was a gifted pianist and dancer. According to Osage tradition, women are not permitted to dance, but Maria's parents recognized her gifts and allowed her to break the rule. Then when Maria reached the age of twelve, her father told her it was time to choose between her two loves. Maria chose ballet. It was a decision that would change not only the course of her life, but the face of classical ballet in America. The fascinating story of Maria Tallchief's rise to become America's prima ballerina will captivate young readers.

"Tallchief's single-minded passion, conveyed in a clear, poetic narrative, will hold appeal and meaning for an audience beyond that of hopeful ballerinas." (The Horn Book)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This volume, relayed in what PW called "metaphorical language," follows Tallchief through her adolescence, on the way to joining the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo. PW wrote, "Kelly's softly focused paintings underscore the lyrical tone, enveloping the characters and settings in gauzy, dreamlike light." Ages 5-9.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Grade 2-4-A picture-book autobiography of the early years of America's first internationally significant ballerina. Through eloquent words, readers are immediately drawn into this first-person narrative. The story opens with Tallchief's birth on an Osage Indian reservation. Her Scots-Irish mother made sure that Maria and her sister received dance and music lessons, and eventually her father persuaded her to choose between piano and dance. The rest is history. The story ends when, at age 17, Maria left home to seek her fame and fortune in New York. As beautiful as the text is, so too are Kelley's pictures. The large illustrations, several covering double-page spreads, are rendered in soft pastels. The text and artwork combine to make a pleasing introduction to a fascinating person. Wells's personal connection to ballet and Tallchief, explained in the introduction, makes this effort all the more stirring. All told, a simple, lovely offering.
Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Puffin; First Edition edition (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142300187
• ISBN-13: 978-0142300183
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.9 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #175,947 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #23 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( W ) > Wells, Rosemary
  • #27 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Biographies > Performing Arts
  • #49 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Multicultural Stories > Native North & South Americans

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for your little ballerinas, December 8, 2009

By 

Linda "Homeschool Mom" (Longwood, FL, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Tallchief: America's Prima Ballerina (Paperback)

This is a charming book with beautiful artwork. My daughter enjoyed it, though she did wish it had information about the Maria's career once she became a professional in New York.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tallchief, America's Prima Ballerina, May 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Tallchief: America's Prima Ballerina (Hardcover)

Tallchief, America's Prima Ballerina, written by Maria Tallchief with Rosemary Wells, is a lovely, lyrical account of a young girl's fierce desire to express the music she felt within her through ballet."I was born with music that flowed through my body as naturally as blood in my veins." Both a talented pianist and dancer, Maria was encouraged by her father to choose one "star". "In the way that very young people choose, from the heart, I chose (ballet) and I chose right". Any young reader would choose right in selecting this inspiring account of a unique American star.

4.0 out of 5 stars Tallchief Americas Prima Ballerina, February 20, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Tallchief: America's Prima Ballerina (Paperback)

The story Tallchief Americas Prima Ballerina is by Maria Tallchief and Rosemary Well. This story is a very heart touching story about a girl following her dreams. The book shows you how hard work and dedication gets you far in life.
The detailed pictures go great with the descriptive words. They really elaborate what's going on in the story. This realistic story shows the reality of decisions making in life. In this story, She had to make the decision on where she was going in life.
This book also shows the main characters culture and background. Maria Tallchief is half Osage and half Scots-Irish.
I think that Tallchief America's Prima Ballerina is a good book because it shows the ambition of a ballerina and what it takes to be one. It also shows reality of a life determining decision, and also teaches about chasing and achieving your dreams.