12 Days of Christmas Book Review

Day Nine:

 

MONSIEUR MARCEAU

by Leda Schubert

 

Image Credit: www.barnesandnoble.com

 

MONSIEUR MARCEAU is a biography about the popular mime Marcel Marceau. While reading this biography, students will learn that Marceau was a Jew. He was affected by the Nazis and he even helped with underground efforts to resist the Nazis. Marceau helped many Jewish children to safety as well as hiding American parachutists. Marceau was quoted as saying, "I am Jewish. Perhaps that, unconsciously, contributed towards my choice of silence." After the war, Marceau studied mime and created the character Bip. Readers are reminded that laughter and sadness do not have a language barrier.

 

The illustrations in this biography are lovely and include pictures that capture the reader's attention. The book includes an afterword section as well as a list of further reading material. Schubert includes tips for anyone who is interested in miming, which I believe many students will enjoy. I would recommend this as a read aloud or to older students who enjoy biographies. This book is on the 2014-2015 Texas Bluebonnet List.