2/20/2022 Picture Book Round-Up: Ropes & Stripes

Sasha Wallace
Feb 20, 2022
5 min read

I thought of both of these books earlier this week. The first, in a kind of roundabout way – I was looking up potential Spring Break cities, then mapping out the distance from that city to Niagara Falls, since I’ve never been & have always wanted to hear the rushing water. From there, I saw an article about a man who actually traversed Niagara on a tightrope. It was a short neurological jump from that to our charming daredevil Mirette. For the second book, the connection was a bit more spur of the moment – a kiddo spilled paint all over me.

Picture Book 1 (literally about finding balance)

Title: Mirette on the High Wire

Author & Illustrator: Emily Arnold McCully

Recommended for: Grades 2-3

Basic plot: Mirette helps her mother, the Widow Gâteau, run a respectable boardinghouse in Paris. One day, Monsieur Bellini, a retired high-wire walker, rents a room. After Mirette catches Bellini strolling across a tightrope he strung up in the courtyard, she persuades him to teach her the tricks of his trade. But can she also convince him to make a comeback to the sport he loves?

Why I love it: Hello empowerment, we have arrived! Mirette is tenacious & determined. She proves that practice makes perfect, that following your dreams isn’t always simple but is always worthwhile, that girls can do dangerous things & so many other commendable morals. Not only does she help Monsieur Bellini vanquish his inner demons, but she also does so in a way that doesn’t embarrass or sidetrack him. This is a short, subtle book that packs such a sweet punch.

Where can you find it? Amazon, eBay, AbeBooks, Thriftbooks, OverDrive (cheapest $1.74 & up, used).

Extension activity: Mirette is a fictional character, but Monsieur Bellini isn’t! Your kiddo may enjoy reading about Henry Bellini online & seeing the original black & white photos of his historic walk across Niagara Falls (including one photo where he lays down on the wire!)

You could also show your kiddo the 1998 documentary about the Flying Wallendas (the first half is free on YouTube), though I’d forewarn them that with great risks come both triumph & tragedy. Have your child reflect on how Nik Wallenda is keeping the family legacy alive, as well as directly taking on some of Bellini’s records.

They could even write a journal reflection – What is the pull of feats like this? Why would people risk their lives to do these death-defying stunts? Is it for fame & fortune? Is it something more internal? Are there any stunts that they wish they could do? (Obviously I wouldn’t encourage those exploits, but it would be interesting to know what your kiddo longs to accomplish in the safety of their imagination. For example, I’ve always wanted to fly. The thought of strapping on a jetpack & gallivanting around the world like Swiss pilot Yves Rossy is so exciting to me! But I’m too intimidated – & poor – to ever try it).

People love to be struck with wonder. It’s what keeps circuses alive even into the 21st century & what makes magic shows in Las Vegas so in-demand even when we know most of it is illusion. Whether its Evel Knievel doing ramp jumps or Harry Houdini doing escape acts, nothing is as alluring as the unexplainable, the uncopiable. Reckless, too. From Cirque du Soleil to The Greatest Showman, the artistry of & demand for such spectacles is alive & well. Any of those topics could become a fascinating research project for your child.

When I was in high school, my teacher showed us a video of Travis Pastrana landing the first double backflip on his motorcycle. It mesmerized & bothered me. The class got into a heated debate about whether or not it was irresponsible for him to endanger his life when he’s a father & husband. Half the class thought he was “greatness” & the other half voted for “greatless”.

If your kiddo seems up to the task, put the question to them. Are records worth striving to break? At what cost, if any, does it become wrong to pursue? That's part of what I love about Mirette on the High Wire - it's a children's book that raises adult questions.

If you want to get some air of your own without having to buy life insurance, consider tying a slack line between trees in your yard or a local park & having your kiddo simulate Mirette & Bellini’s performance. They’ll have an absolute blast. Plus! If they've been naughty lately, you can stipulate a chore or task they have to do each time they fall.

Picture Book 2 (proof that half of the world’s problems could be solved by lima beans)

Title: A Bad Case of Stripes

Author & Illustrator: David Shannon

Recommended for: Grades 1-3 (will probably need to be read to)

Basic plot: Camilla Cream loves lima beans. But she purposely steers clear of them to avoid being judged by her peers. Turns out, not being true to yourself can have some disastrous consequences.

Why I love it: I, too, love lima beans & suffer the slings & arrows of outrageous judgment because of it (all snarkiness directed to hubs). So I really sympathize with Camilla because the struggle is real. I also like the way the author shows how lying can literally transform you into the ugliest version of yourself. It is far from subtle. Towards the bitter end, homegirl legit looks like a beanstalk that walked through a Michael’s craft store. Just in case 98 Degrees & Stevie Wonder wailing “True To Your Heart” on the Mulan soundtrack wasn’t enough for you to feel comfortable in your own skin, this book should get you the rest of the way there.

No one should hate on veggies. There's no reason to be ashamed or scared. Unless you watched Nickelodeon in the '90s, that is. Am I the only one who remembers the Lima Bean Monster from Jimmy Neutron?

Where can you find it? Amazon, eBay, AbeBooks, Thriftbooks, OverDrive (cheapest $1.00 & up, used).

Extension activity: I would start this off with secret sharing. Have your kiddo confess to something they love that they worry others may not approve of or understand (set the tone by sharing first). "_____ isn't cool, but I love it anyways." This can turn into a reassuring discussion & trustfall moment. You have the power to make your kiddo feel better about something they've been concerned with. Or, if they are as open & honest as a window, you have the power to help them become a supportive classmate. You doing your part can help transform the entire climate of that learning space.

Obviously, this book lends itself well to crafts. Your kiddo can create a striped self-portrait of themselves, or find a coloring page of Camilla to embellish. It’s also a good time to talk about cause & effect, since the story revolves around dishonesty & is only solved by the intervention of a well-intentioned stranger.