Firebird
Bibliography:
Copeland, M., & Myers, C. (2014). Firebird. Putnam.
Plot Summary:
This story begins with a young dancer admiring and fascinating over a beautiful, graceful ballerina, criticizing herself for not being good enough and never able to be a good dancer. The ballerina then speaks to the young dancer, saying that she cannot give up hope, as she too was a beginner once. Before all the costumes and audiences, the ballerina was a young girl too learning to dance, who leaped and fell thousands of times. The ballerina says that through practice, work, and determination, the young dancer will obtain that grace and arabesque as well. Soon, the young dancer will be spinning and leaping with the ballerina on the same stage for the same performance, she too will become a swan, a firebird of the stage. Soon the young dancer will say all the same to more dancers, giving them hope and patience to become a beautiful, graceful, firebird ballerina someday alongside her.
Personal Connection:
When I was growing up, I took dance classes, I did tap, jazz, and ballet, and I was not the best dancer, but I was also like 7 years old. I do have so many funny memories from the time though, We did a dance to the song "peanut butter jelly", my sister and I had to wear fake hairpieces, my assigned spot was right next to my cousin. Maybe it's because I took dance or maybe it's just because the art of dance is just so beautiful but this book just felt magical to read, the illustrations were beautiful, the poses were beautiful, and I felt like I was being talked to. I also love the actual idea of the book, that one day, you will be magnificent and a master of your craft, through practice and determination. Kids can get down and discouraged sometimes when they're not masters of something right away, and it can just make you want to quit, hide in a blanket, and never do it again. I love that the idea of this book is that it takes time and I love that it gives hope to the person reading, it makes you feel inspired to follow your dreams.
Classroom Connection:
I think I would use it to remind kids that practice and patience are necessary and that although it may be frustrating right now, it will get easier. School is competitive and frustrating a lot of the time when you don't understand what's being taught, it can bring a kid down, make them discourage themselves, and shut off a part of them, it can break their hearts for not being able to do something another student can. So using this book as a reminder that we cant become masters in a day and that practice and hard work are necessary would be a good reminder for them to regain that hope in school. This would be good to use before, during, or after standardized testing or a classroom assessment, just to help the kids calm down, relax, and do their best. An added plus here to get some reading comprehension strategies practiced would be to have students reflect on the book and relate it to their lives and their feelings. Maybe in a worksheet where they explain the young dancer's feelings, their feelings, and then to call out to the beautiful illustrations in the book, draw a picture of them as masters of their own activity.
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