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"Footwork: The Story of Fred and Adele Astaire" by Roxane Orgill

Author:

Roxane Orgill

Illustrator:

Stéphane Jorisch

Publisher:

Viking, 2007

Reviewed by:

Kristine Wildner, Holy Apostles School, New Berlin, WI

Focusing on the early dancing careers of Fred Astaire and his older sister Adele, Roxane Orgill takes us back to the magical time of dance entertainment during the early 20 th century in an illuminating picture book biography. Beginning their dance careers as children, the Astaires performed on the vaudeville-circuit, eventually moving on to Broadway. Equal partners, the pair experienced a few growing pains, yet persevered through hard work, determination, and innovation. As Fred moved on to motion pictures, Adele quietly retired to family life.

Although most of today's children have never heard of Fred Astaire and know little of his legacy within popular entertainment, they will be inspired by his early dance career with his sister. Stéphane Jorisch's line and water color illustrations bring the Astaire's story to life. Her attention to detail and masterful depiction of light and shadow transport the reader back in time to the magical settings of early 20 th century dance. Alternating text and picture boxes with full page spreads, the layout invites the reader into the world of show business. Emotions of not only Fred and Adele, but also the stage hands and audience depict the excitement of this matchless time and place. Including resources for further reading, listening, viewing and websites, Footwork: The Story of Fred and Adele Astaire is an excellent stepping stone to further research. Traditional values of hard work, practice, and perseverance permeate the story. Fred is a prime example to boys who enjoy dance and to everyone who works hard to perfect and improve their craft.