Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring | 
“My dancers never fall to simply fall. They fall to rise“.
“My dancers never fall to simply fall. They fall to rise“.
Ballet for Martha tells the story of how three artists, Martha Graham, Aaron Copland, and Isamu Noguchi, worked together to create the famous ballet Appalachian Spring. The book shows each person‘s role in bringing the performance to life, celebrating creativity, teamwork, and the power of art to tell a story through music, movement, and design.
pickGenre: Sibert Award Winning Book
Publication year: 2010
Ballet for Martha is presented clearly and directly. The text is easy to follow and perfect for its intended audience which are children who are learning about art, dance, and collaboration. The language is vivid and descriptive, helping readers picture the movement, music, and creativity that went into making the ballet.
“The music turns lively and playful as the young girls dance in pairs, then form circles, fluttering, skittering, reaching up to the sky.“
I would use this book in my classroom to help inspire children to find interest in something whether it be some sort of art or performance. This book is very informational and would provide children with the right materials and meanings of the types of moves and dance described.
pickBallet for Martha written by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan. This book is about the making of Martha Graham's most famous dance performance, which was called Appalachian Spring. This book will offer interest and meaning for today's child through the inspiring ways of Martha and how she choreographed her piece.
“But the life of Appalachian Spring goes on after that great night to become an American favorite, and to be danced year after year”
This book may not be very exciting for early readers, but the morals of the story are very much applicable to their lives! Just remembering to be yourself and stick to what you believe in is a great lesson!
so-soPublished in 2010- this is the true story of how a ballerina and a composer who seem misunderstood at first, go on to make the most popular ballet ever created. It‘s a really great story about how to stick to what you believe in even if people at first do not seem to understand. The story is told using vivid pictures and true facts regarding the performance to bring the story together
“There will be eight dancers in Martha‘s ballet. Martha‘s role is the Bride.”
I think it‘s a good book but I think children would somewhat find it long and boring. However, I think it‘s nice to cover the life of a ballerina because I believe that would be hard to come by in children‘s literature.
so-soBallet for Martha by Jan Greenberg published in 2010 tells the story of the scenes of a classic ballet. It goes through Martha‘s rehearsal and performance.
Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring by Jan Greenburg, Orbis Pictus award winner, non-fiction. This picture book is about a ballerina will unusual dance steps. All she needs to get music, a set, and dancers. While flipping the pages in this book we see how a ballerina made her dream come true and how she was able to get her performance together.
pickSymphony post no. 2: And David Robertson read from Ballet for Martha, the wonderful picture book about the creation of Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring (also performed tonight). This youth librarian's heart was warmed several times over. 💗💗💗 #slso
(Apologies for the grainy photo.)
pickA delightful picture book about the making of Appalachian Spring
