(3) K-3 Illustrated by Cosei Kawa. Instead of wearing heavy iron braces for her weak legs, the doctor lets young Lily Marks take dance lessons to strengthen them. Thus begins the ascent of the first Jewish prima ballerina assoluta, later known as Alicia Markova. Goddu tells the true story with elegant simplicity; an afterword offers more straightforward biography. Kawa's ornately detailed, stylized illustrations capture the wonder and magic of ballet.

Reviewer: Mariko Turk

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Cosei Kawa. A collection of whimsical poems told by a creative chef showcase the quirky eating habits of circus entertainers--trapeze artists on a sugar high, for example. It's an offbeat angle on the circus and there's nice variation to the poems, though some of the rhymes and rhythms drag. While colorful and unique, the surreal illustrations contain details that are a bit too minute.

Reviewer: Jeannie Coutant

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Cosei Kawa. The young narrator describes accompanying her parents, actors in the Yiddish theater, to performances; one day, she ends up on stage. For the right audience, the book--informed by the ninety-six-year-old author's childhood--provides an authentic glimpse into the early-twentieth-century Yiddish theater experience; an explanatory note is included. Muted, attractively stylized illustrations with a charming bygone-era sensibility complement the quiet story.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith