Anything But Ordinary Addie : The True Story of Adelaide Herrmann, Queen of Magic

Author(s): Mara Rockliff

Children's Picture Books

Be astonished and dazzled by the true story of Adelaide Herrmann, the Queen of Magic!

Some girls are perfectly happy never doing anything out of the ordinary. But Addie was anything but ordinary. She longed for thrills and excitement! At a time when a young lady appearing onstage was considered most unusual, Addie defied convention and became a dancer. And when she married the world-famous magician Herrmann the Great, she knew she had to be part of his show. Addie wanted to shock and dazzle! She would do anything to draw the crowds, even agree to be shot out of a cannon. But when Herrmann the Great died, Addie couldn’t disappoint her loyal fans — the show had to go on. What could she do? She would perform the show all by herself! From the creators of Mesmerized, this rollicking romp tells the true story of one fearless magician’s rise to glory, featuring exquisitely lavish illustrations by Iacopo Bruno. Extensive back matter, including instructions for performing one of Addie’s original tricks, makes this a dazzling celebration of one of the first female conjurers in show business.

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Velvet stage curtains, ship s rigging, fellow audience members all overlap the featured artwork, lending excitement and immediacy to this little known tale. The rich colors and embellished fonts, meanwhile, create a grandiose effect fitting for Adelaide s life in the spotlight. Adelaide s independent spirit is inspiring, whether she s creating scandal by proposing to a man or donning risque costumes...Pure magic. Booklist (starred review) Rockliff tells Addie s story with panache, the words bouncing across the page, with varying sizes and typefaces to highlight and emphasize important ideas. Bruno s pencil and digitally colored illustrations are a homage to another time...Picture book biographies about groundbreaking women are always welcome, and this one is sure to please readers, young and old. School Library Journal (starred review) The art makes the piece much more than simply a humorous biography of a spunky woman artist; readers get a taste of elite and artistic lives during Addie's lifetime. Addie's willingness to perform the feared-and-revered bullet-catching trick to retain popularity after Alex's death is a perfect way to end the entertaining, true story. An out-of-the-ordinary biography. Kirkus Reviews"

Mara Rockliff is the author of many books for children, including "Mesmerized, " illustrated by Iacopo Bruno, and the Golden Kite Award winner "Me and Momma and Big John, " illustrated by William Low. Mara Rockliff lives in eastern Pennsylvania. Iacopo Bruno is a graphic designer and the illustrator of "Mesmerized. "He lives in Milan, Italy.

General Fields

  • : 9780763668419
  • : Candlewick Press (Ma)
  • : Candlewick Press,U.S.
  • : 0.567
  • : March 2016
  • : 30.00 cmmm X 23.00 cmmm
  • : United States
  • : April 2016
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : illustrations
  • : illustrations
  • : 48
  • : en
  • : Iacopo Bruno
  • : Hardback
  • : Mara Rockliff