Mirette on the Highwire (Caldecott Medal Book)
Worth buying if: You enjoy Emily Arnold McCully’s watercolor illustrations and character-focused picture books.
Skip it if: You prefer long-form middle-grade novels rather than a 32-page picture book.
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780399221309. The Amazon link uses this ISBN, so the product page should open to the edition shown here.
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Summary
In Mirette on the Highwire, Mirette watches the mysterious tightrope walker Bellini and, determined to learn, trains to cross the highwire herself; Emily Arnold McCully pairs spare text with lively watercolors in this 32-page picture-book classic.
Why this book now
This 1992 Caldecott Medal winner endures as a classroom favorite for lessons on courage, practice, and the spectacle of Bellini’s tightrope in children’s literature.
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Best for readers who...
Good fit if you want...
- You enjoy Emily Arnold McCully’s watercolor illustrations and character-focused picture books.
- You want a short, staged tale about learning to walk a highwire and overcoming stage fright.
- If you enjoy sharp dialogue, the ending turns expectations on their head.
- You prefer long-form middle-grade novels rather than a 32-page picture book.
- You expect instructional how-to safety details about real tightrope walking.
- You only want something with very current references and examples.
Decided it fits?
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780399221309
Worth buying if: You enjoy Emily Arnold McCully’s watercolor illustrations and character-focused picture books.
Skip it if: You prefer long-form middle-grade novels rather than a 32-page picture book.
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.
Reader guide
Cues to help you decide faster.
Reading commitment
Quick Easy to move through
At 32 pages, this is a single-session picture-book read ideal for read-alouds, storytime, or a quiet bedtime sharing—about 10–20 minutes.
What stands out here
This Putnam Pub Group edition highlights Emily Arnold McCully’s Caldecott-honored art and the tightrope motif that defines Mirette and Bellini’s story.
Best way to approach it
Read aloud to emphasize rhythm and bravery: linger on McCully’s illustrations of the highwire and use varied voices for Mirette and Bellini to boost engagement.
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Exact edition: ISBN-13 9780399221309
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.