Firebird

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Copeland, M., & Myers, C. (2014). Firebird: Ballerina Misty Copeland shows a young girl how to dance like the firebird. New York, NY : Penguin Group

• ISBN: 0399166157

PLOT SUMMARY
Firebird is the story of a ballerina named Misty Copeland. Misty Copeland meets a young African American girl that admires her but lacks confidence in herself. Misty Copeland shares her story with the young girl and gives her words of encouragement. The young girl learns that with hard work and dedication she too can become a Firebird just like her idol Misty Copeland.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Misty Copeland creatively integrates elements of her life into a picture book format. Readers will really feel the natural flow and rhythm of Misty Copeland’s dance, through the beautiful calming illustrations and the rhythmic poetic text. Firebird is an inspirational read for ALL dancers! Many young girls will be able to connect with the main characters lack of confidence, but will slowly understand that you can be anything if you don’t give up. Misty takes readers on a journey from where she started to where she is now because of her determination and dedication.

There are many cultural markers that readers can view through Myers’ beautiful illustrations of the skin tone and hair texture of the characters to the urban city skyline. In addition, there is a authentic cultural connection to the interest of dancing in the African American culture. Misty Copeland is the first African American principal ballerina to perform at the American Ballet Theatre. She explains to readers that she did not see herself as a Ballerina because she was Black. That is one reason why she decided to write this book, so that she can inspire young readers of color to follow their dreams!

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist (July 2014 (Vol. 110, No. 21))

In an author’s note, Copeland comments on her discovery of ballet, her appreciation of the women who mentored her, and her hope of empowering others to feel that they can achieve their goals. An inspirational picture book for children daunted by the gap between their dream and their reality.”

Horn Book Guide starred (Spring 2015)

“In an imagined dialogue, American Ballet Theatre soloist Copeland reassures a disheartened African American ballet student that she also had self-doubts: "darling child, don't you know / you're just where I started." Richly hued collages make the dancers on stage seem to fly. An author's note says that Copeland never saw herself in ballet books; this book encourages aspiring dancers of all colors.”
CONNECTION
This would be a great book to introduce a biography project about Misty Copeland!
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/blog-posts/alycia-zimmerman/get-inspired-biography-research-part-2--project-ideas/