A remarkable convergence of fine arts and carnival showmanship occurred in April 1942, when choreographer George Balanchine, composer Igor Stravinsky, and dancer Vera Zorina’s collaboration with Wisconsin native and circus owner John Ringling North debuted. The Ballet of the Elephants featured fifty tutu-clad elephants from Ringling’s Greatest Show on Earth in a dance with Zorina. It was choreographed by Balanchine to music composed by Stravinsky for the performance. This vivid account details the odd and fascinating majesty of that event, as well as the personalities involved and the planning and preparation that went into it. Leda Schubert conveys a remarkable amount of information in her relatively brief picture book narrative, which is set against Robert Andrew Parker’s compelling watercolor illustrations. Schubert details her research in an author’s note that is accompanied by several black-and-white photos of the ballet’s rehearsal and performance, including one performance that took place at Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin. (Ages 5–10)

Sparking watercolors-and-ink illustrations dance across the page and spill out onto a horizontal foldout of elephants and ballerinas spotlighted together--in the true story of "Circus Polka," choreographed in 1942 by George Balanchine, with music by Igor Stravinsky and performances by John Ringling North's elephants. Robert Andrew Parker brings his love of theater, dance, and costume to this captivating story. Leda Schubert's background note includes black-and-white photos of the actual performance.