Cowboys at the Ballet

* “[A] dynamic biographical story that’s rendered with verve … Infused with rose- and poppy-hued coloring, Urbinati’s lightly sketched digital artwork effectively captures the energy of de Mille and her work, frequently depicting the subject and dancers mid-leap. Combined with Wrenn Bobrow’s vivacious narration, the result is a spirited appreciation.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW“Through lively, folksy text, and by sharing de Mille’s unique vision, Bobrow may inspire readers to follow a genuine path of their own. Urbinati’s digital illustrations are fluid, employing delicate, graceful lines and a warm color palette of dusty rose, burnt orange, and deep mahogany reds.” – Horn Book“A high-stepping tribute to a young dancer who hit her stride not onstage but at a rodeo… . the dancers’ sense of movement—everyone looks ready to burst into action—strongly reflects the narrative’s buoyant, irresistible energy. En pointe for any lovers of dance or its history.” – Kirkus Reviews“Her determined spirit and endless experimentation twirl and leap about the pages, the long, loose linework an elegant match for her graceful movements. The main text ends with the premiere of De Mille’s celebrated ballet Rodeo, which launched her career at long last.” – Booklist

Claire Wrenn Bobrow is a writer and bookseller living in San Francisco. She has a background in landscape architecture and a love of the arts. Her interests include attending the ballet and opera, hiking, and planting pollinator-friendly gardens. Claire loves animals of every stripe, and her favorite dessert is a plum galette.

Ilaria Urbinati is an Italian illustrator, born in Turin and based in Bologna. She began her career as character designer and colorist for animated television series before working as a freelance illustrator creating children’s books, graphic novels, and editorial and commercial illustrations. She has illustrated several picture books including Saving the Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit and Cowboys at the Ballet: The Story of Choreographer Agnes de Mille. Ilaria is also a professor teaching illustration, watercolor, and visual development.