Fearless Mirabelle and Meg

by Katie Haworth, Nila Aye (Illustrator)

Overview

A fun and exuberant picture book about twin sisters with very different talents.

Mirabelle and Meg Moffat are twins, and their mom and dad are famous circus acrobats. Mirabelle is fearless. She promises to be the most topsy-turvy, upside-down acrobat of all. Unlike Meg, who is afraid of heights. But with a grand new show featuring Mirabelle about to open, it soon becomes clear that there is at least one thing that does scare Mirabelle. Could it be time for Meg’s talent to shine?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781536208115
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	10/01/2019
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.90(w) x 11.50(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Katie Haworth is the author of several picture books. Originally from New Zealand, she now works as an editor in London.

Nila Aye describes her artwork as "retro modern with a cute twist. Stylish and sweet at the same time." She lives in the U.K.

Editorial Reviews

While the finale highlights individualism, wise caregivers will also note the common pitfall of expecting children to follow in their footsteps. The twins' yellows and blues set against the reds of the circus tent give the story a pleasing primary palette and retro style befitting the circus theme...Big top fun.
—Kirkus Reviews

Simple artwork featuring black outlines and primary colors carries a slight vintage vibe and a dynamic mix of action sequences, full-page illustrations, and dramatic double-page spreads..A cute ode to individuality.
—Booklist

A delightful story about twins and a reminder that talent is individual. A fun read-aloud for storytime or one-on-one (or two) sharing.
—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

11/01/2019

PreS-Gr 1—Young Mirabelle and Meg Moffat and their parents are members of a traveling circus. Though the girls are identical twins, they are nothing alike. Mirabelle takes after her parents with their love of acrobatics, while Meg prefers two feet on the ground. Mirabelle never stops climbing; Meg never stops talking. When Mirabelle makes her debut, all are amazed, but it turns out Mirabelle isn't completely fearless. While Meg might fear heights, Mirabelle is afraid of public speaking. The color scheme and drawings are simple, with Meg highlighted in yellow and Mirabelle standing out in blue. The action in the book is set against a mostly white background with the circus tent popping in red. VERDICT A delightful story about twins and a reminder that talent is individual. A fun read-aloud for storytime or one-on-one (or two) sharing.—Shana Shea, Windsor Public Library, CT

School Library Journal

2019-06-23
Identical twins find their individuality at the circus.

Mirabelle and Meg Moffat have grown up traveling with their circus-acrobat parents. While the twins resemble each other, with elongated, oval heads; rosy cheeks; and large, expressive black dots for eyes, their personalities are nothing alike. From a young age, Mirabelle, always dressed in blue, has liked action, much to her parents' delight. Meg, always dressed in yellow, has preferred talking—and staying on the ground. When their parents decide it's time they join the family business, Mirabelle takes to acrobatics with ease. Deemed "fearless," she becomes the headliner for the next show. But as Meg takes her turn on the trapeze platform, she becomes speechless for the first time, and her parents realize that she is afraid of heights. On the day of Mirabelle's grand debut, action verbs describe her amazing feats and the crowd's response. But when the press demands interviews afterward, she finds herself speechless and afraid. Meg finally recognizes her own fearless talent, becoming the spokesperson and announcer for the circus. While the finale highlights individualism, wise caregivers will also note the common pitfall of expecting children to follow in their footsteps. The twins' yellows and blues set against the reds of the circus tent give the story a pleasing primary palette and retro style befitting the circus theme. While the girls and their parents are white, the audience is diverse.

Big top fun. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews