Books by Jan Greenberg & Sandra Jordan

A Ballet for Martha New for Fall 2010!

Ballet for Martha:
Making Appalachian Spring

by Jan Greenberg
and Sandra Jordan
illustrated by Brian Floca

Award-winning authors Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan tell the behind-the-scenes story of the collaboration of three trail-blazing artists who created the modern ballet, Appalachian Spring. From the first spark of inspiration through Martha’s intense rehearsal process, readers find this a compelling picture book. The illustrator is two-time Sibert Honor winner Brian Floca, whose vivid watercolors capture the artistic intensity of Martha Graham, Aaron Copland, and Isamu Noguchi. Learn more >

Section of back cover artwork from A Ballet for Martha

Jan Greenberg (r) signs books with Melissa Posten of PuddnHead Books.

“The dancers all read the advance copy of Ballet for Martha and were charmed, thrilled, blown away, delighted, etc, etc! We all love it!”

—Janet Eilber, Artistic Director
of the Martha Graham Center

Young Readers and Art Books

“Art books for young people are an interesting genre, prone to their own pitfalls (telling readers how art should make them feel, veering either to the side of condescension or overestimation). During the last decade, however, one authorial team has set a standard for accessible and provocative nonfiction about art with books that stimulate curiosity as well as providing information. Now no literary gallery can be complete without titles from Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan.”

—Deborah Stevenson, from an article in
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books


JAN GREENBERG		SANDRA JORDAN

Jan and Sandra are pleased to share the reviews for Ballet for Martha

Kirkus Best Books 2010
PW Best Books 2010
Booklist Editor's Choice 2010
SLJ Best Books 2010
Washington Post Best Books 2010
Boston Globe Best Books
Horn Book Fanfare
ALA Notable Book
NCTE 2011 Orbis Pictus award
ALSC's 2011 Sibert Honor

“... inspired ... Capturing the drama of dance, music, and stage design in a two-dimensional format is no easy feat, but this team does it with a noteworthy grace of their own.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Through the use of active sentences in the present tense and brief quotes, the authors convey the excitement and drama of the creative process and the triumph of the ballet. ... A stunning achievement. Archival photographs embellish the biographical notes at the end - a lovely touch.”

—Kirkus

“Using spare, concise sentences, the authors echo Graham’s approach to dance: like the movements in her choreography, nothing is wasted, and in such exactness lies the beauty. Greenberg and Jordan are careful to explain that Graham was an uncommon kind of dancer crafting a different type of ballet: Floca's fluid, energetic line-and-watercolor illustrations echo the plain boldness of Graham's choreography and make readers feel almost as if they were present at the inaugural performance of Appalachian Spring at the Library of Congress in 1944.”

—Horn Book

“... How does an idea go from a jotted note on choreographer Martha Graham’s pad to a fierce triumph? In crisp yet patient sentences, the authors begin with a vision: a story to be told in movement and music, an American pioneer tale ... The book as a whole beautifully captures the process of artistic creation ...”

—Booklist

“If Martha Graham’s choreography for “Appalachian Spring” was a “valentine” to the world, as critics wrote in 1944, then this book is a love letter in return. Simple, poetic prose tells the story of the creation of one of the world’s most-loved ballets and compositions, and Floca’s graceful watercolor illustrations take admirers through every part of its development. Written in the present tense, the narrative has a sense of drama that carries readers along as if the events were happening in real time. ... “curtain call,” notes, and resources pages… read like a fantastic set of liner notes. ... a gem that is approachable for young readers.”

—School Library Journal

Read the complete reviews >