Rachel Isadora

Many children dream of becoming dancers, musicians, acto Many children dream of becoming dancers, musicians, actors, and artists, but few have the opportunity, the skill, anrs, and artists, but few have the opportunity, the skill, and the determination to live out those dreams. Rachel Isadorad the determination to live out those dreams. Rachel Isadora is the exception. When she was young, she wanted to be a ba is the exception. When she was young, she wanted to be a ballerina--and she became one. And now she has firmly establisllerina--and she became one. And now she has firmly established herself in a second career as an artist with an impressihed herself in a second career as an artist with an impressive string of picture books, including "Ben's Trumpet", a Calve string of picture books, including "Ben's Trumpet", a Caldecott Honor Book. Born and raised in New York City, Racdecott Honor Book. Born and raised in New York City, Rachel studied at the School of American Ballet (associated withel studied at the School of American Ballet (associated with the New York City Ballet) as a Ford Foundation scholarshiph the New York City Ballet) as a Ford Foundation scholarship student. She danced with the Boston Ballet until a foot inj student. She danced with the Boston Ballet until a foot injury forced her to consider another career: book illustrationury forced her to consider another career: book illustration. "I had always drawn for my own entertainment," says Rachel. "I had always drawn for my own entertainment," says Rachel, "but I'd never had any instruction, and I wasn't sure how, "but I'd never had any instruction, and I wasn't sure how to proceed. So I just took a collection of sketches-odds andto proceed. So I just took a collection of sketches-odds and ends on bits of paper-to the first editor who would see me. ends on bits of paper-to the first editor who would see me. She suggested I do a book about what I knew best." The resu She suggested I do a book about what I knew best." The result was "Max", published in 1976 and named an ALA Notable Boolt was "Max", published in 1976 and named an ALA Notable Book. Since Max, Rachel has written and illustrated many otk. Since Max, Rachel has written and illustrated many other books, and has illustrated three books by her editor, Elher books, and has illustrated three books by her editor, Elizabeth Shub. When Rachel begins a new book, she first imagiizabeth Shub. When Rachel begins a new book, she first imagines the story through the pictures. I 'see' each illustrationes the story through the pictures. I 'see' each illustration separately," she says. "I write a description of what I enn separately," she says. "I write a description of what I envision on each page; then I go over it with my editor and mavision on each page; then I go over it with my editor and make revisions. Next I do the actual drawing, and finally I wrke revisions. Next I do the actual drawing, and finally I write the text." Rachel Isadora lives in New York City witite the text." Rachel Isadora lives in New York City with her two children. When she is not busy with her family, shh her two children. When she is not busy with her family, she spends most of her spare time drawing. "Work like this is e spends most of her spare time drawing. "Work like this is a dancer's fantasy," she says. "Because ballet is so demandia dancer's fantasy," she says. "Because ballet is so demanding, dancers' stage careers are short. They can only dream ofng, dancers' stage careers are short. They can only dream of going on and on forever. With art, I can go on and on, and going on and on forever. With art, I can go on and on, and for me it's the only work that compares in intensity and joyfor me it's the only work that compares in intensity and joy."."