This book is set in France in the late 19th century. It’s about a little girl who’s mother owns a boardinghouse. A man named Bellini, comes to stay at the boardinghouse. One day Mirette sees him walking on a rope and becomes determined to do the same. Her teacher, Bellini, has let fear stop him from tight rope walking. One night he decides to do a tight rope but is overcome with fear in the middle of it. Mirette rushes to help him and crosses the high wire along with him. This is a great read aloud. Kids will enjoy the curious, brave Mirette. ( )

Kirkus Review 10/15/1992

Inspired by the exploits of the daredevil Blondin, an exotic, suspenseful story about the affection and loyalty between teacher and protegee: Mirette learns tightrope-walking from Monsieur Bellini, a famous wirewalker who has lost his nerve and is staying in her mother's Parisian boardinghouse because he can no longer perform. For Mirette's sake, Bellini plans a comeback--a walk across a square from one high rooftop to another--but he freezes on the wire until Mirette dashes up to the opposite roof and walks out to meet him. Intense colors, strong contrasts of light and shadow, and artistes and dandies straight out of Toulouse-Lautrec convey the atmosphere of Paris in la belle epoque--a real departure in style and subject matter from McCully's mouse-family adventures. (Picture book. 5-9)

Personal Review:

Watching a guest at her mother's boardinghouse walking a tightrope suspended above a courtyard inspires Mirette to learn how to achieve such a feat. What she doesn't know is that the man is the Great Bellini, who is taking a break from performing when fear overtakes him after a fall. Yet Mirette is determined and committed to following in his steps. McCully's bright and colorful watercolors carry the reader over the rooftops of nineteenth-century Paris and into the heart of a determined and brave little girl. ( )

This book is set in late 19th century France and details the adventure of a young girl who learns to walk the high wire and rescues her mentor in the process. The vibrancy of the watercolor illustrations and their fuzzed lines infuses the book with the excitement and rush of Mirette’s boarding house childhood, bringing it to life. Although the narration is third person, the point of view is entirely Mirette’s. The reader experiences the world as young Mirette does. The book shows how people can positively influence and help one another. It examines the themes of courage and of overcoming fears. The colorful illustrations and exotic plot make this book a good choice for reading aloud to younger elementary school students. ( )

The Great Bellini, once a master on the high wire, takes a room at the Boardinghouse run by Mirette's mother in Paris. He seems sad. He keeps to himself, and when he does go out on the high wire, he refuses to teach Mirette his talent. She is so fascinated by the art and so determined to learn, though, that she begins to teach herself. Once Bellini observes her talent, he coaches her more, but gravely warns her of becoming too proud. Finally, he admits to her that he no longer does great shows because he has developed a fear that did not always afflict him. Mirette encourages him to face his fear, but he is reluctant. However, Mirette means so much to him that he realizes that he must face his fear in order to set a good example for her and help her to succeed. He arranges a sort of 'comeback' show which the whole city watches. Mid-wire, though, he freezes with fear, and Mirette is the only one who can help him. She walks out and faces him so that he has the strength to carry on. In the end, they begin doing high wire shows together.

This story, set in 19th century Paris, tells the story of Mirette, a young girl who lives in a boarding house that houses acrobats, jugglers and other entertainers. One day a mysterious man arrives who keeps to himself. When Mirette finds him walking on a wire across the courtyard, she is entranced by his skills and she pleads with him to teach her. Day in and day out she practices and soon becomes quite confident in her wire walking skills. One day a talent agent arrives and tells the boardinghouse visitors that the mysterious man is the great Bellini, the man who once walked a tight wire across Niagra Falls. When Mirette asks Bellini why he no longer does his daring feats, Bellini admits that he is afraid. Finally, he gathers his courage to perform another feat, but he freezes as he steps onto the wire. Fortunately, Mirette is there. She crosses the wire and meets the great Bellini half-way. She has truly become his protege. ( )

This book starts out about a little girl that lives in a boarding house in England. There were travelers that came to stay there. One day a man showed up that was an old high wire walker and asked to stay. He walked on the clothes line one day and showed the little girl how because she wanted to learn. This man got recognized one day and the little girl heard about all the wonderful things he did. She asked him why he did not do those things anymore and it was because he was scared of the wire. Then the little girl helped him conquer his fear and the two of them got an act together on the high wire.

This book is a good book but there are some difficult words that might be hard for children starting out reading. This book has some intresting information about it. This book also teaches a lesson to try again and do not give up even if you fall.

This book would be good for children that can handle different words. This would not be a book I would read aloud to a classroom.

A girl with ambition, and great balance. It's Mirette and a high wire. It's a grand show. ( )

This is a historical fiction book. The art in it looks hand-drawn and colored using oil pastels. It is about a young girl named Mirette, who is inspired by the Great Bellini to become a master wire-walker. When the Great Bellini is overcome with fear, Mirette encourages him and they end up putting on a great show. The reading level is probably either third or fourth grade because it is kind of wordy for a picture book and many of the words are teir 2 words. The curricular connections in this book are: high wire-walkers, courage, practice, friendships, and perserverance. ( )

This is a good example of realistic fiction because the setting is very vivid and woven into the story such as describing the boardinghouse. Also, a variety of people are present in the story such as everyday Parisians and also well-known entertainers.

Media: watercolors, pastels

Setting: This is an appropriate setting for the book because Mirette lives in Paris with her mother when Bellini comes to rest.

Mirette on the High Wire takes place a hundred years ago in Paris, France and the watercolor illustrations are the perfect compliment to the story. As I read the story about a young girl who meets the tightrope walker, Bellini, I felt like I was in France. The subtle details, like the clothing the character wear, make the story believable and engaging. The bright color contrasting with darker tones make this a very pleasurable visual experience.

The story of Mirette and Bellini is one of hardship, friendship, courage and strength. A little girl befriends a sad and troubled man, and they help each reach goals and fulfill dreams as they both walk a tightrope to save each other.

A beautiful book that will engage students with the illustrations and the story. ( )

Mirette is a little girl who lives in Paris. She was linens and mopped floors at her parents resturant. One evening a retired high-wire walker came to rest. While his stay Mirette seen the man walking on a high wire, and she started practicing and she got so good she the man hire her to go on shows with him.

This book had great pictures with the story line. I really like the thought of the story by telling children if they keep practicing at something they want to do then they can achieve their dreams. This book would be great for children who are into sports as well.

I would read this book in the classroom to all ages. I would have the children draw a picture of their favorite thing to do. Then i would put a piece of tape on the floor in the classroom and see who could make it to the end of the room without falling off the piece of tape, and the winner would get a surprise.

Mirette’s mother owns a boarding house in Paris and takes in Bellini a tight rope walker. Bellini teaches Mirette how to walk a tight rope and she in turn helps him conquer his fear.

The book includes beautiful illustrations of historic Parisian home and dress. The plot shows a girl’s dedication to an interesting art form that may interest many readers. The point of view shifts from Mirette’s to Bellini for a few pages toward the end of narrative. This transition was not necessary and may have been shown better if the narrative remained in Mirette’s point of view.

A young girl watches a man walk a tight rope and wants to learn how. She teaches herself and, through her courage, helps the man get over his fear.

I though this book was very good. It has a good lesson of how children can show us how to get over our own fears.

This could be a good book to use in the classroom when doing a circus themed lesson. Also could be used when dealing with different fears that children have.

A good story in addition to beautiful artwork. McCully tackles fear, persistence, and adventure, themes that ring true in a child's experience, and develops them in a fresh, believable setting. My five year old son felt the tension in the book, with tears of compassion and joy for the characters. Discussion questions pour out of the book readily. It is a book worth enjoying and discussing more than once.

Summary: This was a beautifully written and illustrated story about a little girl named Mirette who learns how to walk on a wire. She learns how to do this from the great wire walker Bellini.

Critical Response: The plot in this story is very believable and it shows how Mirette teaches Bellini how to get over fear and showed him true courage.

Classroom Connections: After reading this story, I will have students share something during share time that they would like to learn. I will help them to pick something realistic and in their journals they will mark that they practices this skill for twenty minutes a day for a week. At the end of the week, students will write a summary about how they improved or didn't improve in the skill and what they learned about themselves as they practiced this skill. ( )

Amazon.com
Mirette and the "Great Bellini" traverse the Paris skyline on high wire in the climactic scene of this picture book about conquering fear. The two meet at Mirette's mother's boarding house, where Bellini is staying with a troupe of traveling performers. Mirette persuades Bellini to teach her his art, and soon enough the two are performing above the rooftops of Paris. While Mirette gets to step outside her daily routine of peeling potatoes and scrubbing floors, Bellini manages to reaffirm his mastery. The story affords a spunky, down-to-earth role model for readers who like to dream big dreams. It also offers rich, scenic portraits of 19th century Paris. The book won the 1993 Caldecott Medal. ( )

FROM LIBRARY CATALOG:
Mirette learns tightrope walking from Monsieur Bellini, a guest in her mother's boarding house, not knowing that he is a celebrated tightrope artist who has withdrawn from performing because of fear.