Firebird by Misty Copeland

Biographical Verse

Grade Level: K-3

Interest Level: K-5

Themes:  perseverance, believing in yourself, overcoming obstacles, determination, hard work, following your dreams

Firebird, by Misty Copeland is a picture book that you want in your collection. Especially, but not only for little brown girls dreaming of dancing, but for any girls dreaming of being something or somewhere that  rejects their skin color, body type and/or circumstance.

Copeland’s story is authentic because it subtly captures the dreams and the fears of children who want to be more than their experience dictates. It also reflects the very real barriers of rejection that marginalized people face. 

It is not text heavy, and Christopher Meyer’s illustrations are perfect for picture walks through the text with beginning readers.   While the text is simple enough for those learning to read, it is also rich in imagery and figurative language, making it instructionally appropriate for many grade levels. Copeland’s figurative language is sprinkled with a few dance terms, and there is a beautifully, effective culturally specific simile “pirouetting tightly as the curls on our heads”. This will resonate with  many little black girls dreaming of doing things that black girls “don’t do”. We know from Copeland’s real life story, that this tale has a  happy ending. She teaches of not giving up, or listening to the naysayers, but instead pressing on as she did to spin wishes for other children.

Copeland ends her book with an inspirational letter to her readers telling of her journey from a little girl who didn’t fit in,  to the second African American soloist at the American Ballet Theater. 

Beautiful book. Don't walk, dance to get it.