Fearless Mirabelle

Fearless Mirabelle by Katie Haworth and Nila Aye (Templar Publishing) explores what it's like to be completely different to your identical twin - especially if you feel your sibling is better than you. The story takes place in the wonderful setting of a circus and is beautifully illustrated in a limited but striking colour palette. There's a great message here for siblings, not just twins, about celebrating your differences, and its a message that can be applied to friendships too. A lovely read with gorgeous endpapers to boot! * Story Time *
Mirabelle and Meg Moffat are twins and their parents are famous circus acrobats. The girls are very different and this story just goes to show that we shouldn't expect twins to be the same - they are all individuals and follow their own course in life, just like Meg and Mirabelle. As babies, they were very different - Mirabelle is always climbing; Meg is always talking. So it turns out that Mirabelle is a fearless acrobat but Meg is afraid of heights. But is Mirabelle afraid of anything? With her new grand show opening, Meg might be about to find out... and the bond of twins will come to the fore. With the vibrant world of the circus at its heart, this is a lovely story about working together and being the best you can... whatever it is at. * Parents in Touch *
Identical twins are... well, identical, but they are also very, very different! Katie Haworth and Nila Aye celebrate our individuality in a warm, wise and funny picture book starring adorable twin sisters Mirabelle and Meg Moffat as they get ready to join their parents' daring circus act. Mirabelle and Meg's mum and dad are famous acrobats. Like her parents, Mirabelle is fearless and promises to be the most topsy-turvy, upside down acrobat of all. Her twin Meg doesn't like balancing and climbing... she would much rather talk, read and go swimming. It turns out that Meg is afraid of heights, but is her lively sister Mirabelle afraid of anything? With the new grand show opening, Meg might be about to find out. With its circus setting and quirky, adorable twin stars, Fearless Mirabelle is an exuberant and inspirational story which explores how we can all use our very different talents. Haworth delivers important messages through a fun and lively story set against a thrilling circus backdrop while Aye's seductive palette of 'retro modern' illustrations add special charm and atmosphere. A class act from a top team... * Lancashire Evening Post *

Identical twins Mirabelle and Meg (I do wonder why she's not given a mention in the title?) are not totally identical. Mirabelle follows in her parents' footsteps and does daring circus deeds as soon as she's able, while her sister Meg prefers words to action. This is not a problem until the girls accompany their parents to work, and Mirabelle takes to the trapeze like an acrobat to ... the trapeze but Meg is paralysed with fear. Ashamed of her reaction, and the fact that she is different to the rest of her family, she hides away until she is called upon to prove her mettle.
Like most of the books in this round-up this one focuses on the acceptability of being different to others and how we all have our own talents and gifts. I feel this could perhaps have been more aptly shown if Meg had been included in the title, but the message comes out clearly in the reading of the book

* Childtastic Books *

Perhaps it's the celebration of individuality, or having confidence in your own unique skill set, or looking after your sibling, but this picture book appeals on so many levels. There's the circus element, which is always a winner, and the attention to quirky detail, such as Mirabelle balancing on a galloping horse on one leg, whilst eating a bowl of cereal.
Mirabelle and Meg are identical twins, but although Mirabelle is fearless in the circus, Meg is scared of heights. When they realise that Meg's asset is her ability to speak in front of a crowd (which terrifies Mirabelle), the girls realise that together they can be a supreme double act.
The limited colour palette of primary colours, with black and white, makes for a distinctive look - the characters look a little like friendly Coraline's, and children will delight in the veneer of simplicity in the scribbled illustrations - they are stylish and endearing - like sugar candy with an edge. Different typefaces explore direct speech, capitals are used for emphasis. Much to look at, just like the circus.

* Minerva Reads *
Nila Aye's retro illustrations give the book a distinctive style which is engaging and full of charm. An excellent book about recognising and accepting differences but also celebrating individual talents, however subtle they may be. * Acorn Books *
An enchanting story of how twins are not so alike, but each helps the other to overcome their own fear. * Creative Steps *
Mirabelle and Meg are identical twins. They look just alike but are very different inside. As they are in a circus family, these differences become obvious. Mirabelle is the physically brave one. She has no fear and her professional acrobat parents are amazed at her feats of daring do. Meg, on the other hand, is the nosy one. She talks all the time and has no interest in being an acrobat. this becomes apparent when her parents try to train her and realise she is terrified of heights. this makes Meg sad, and she retreats to the caravan and wont com out. But after Mirabelle's remarkable gran debut., when she is being interviewed by one and all , it is she who is terrifies and cant speak: Mirabells's legs wobbled like jellyfish, her hands shook like earthquakes..." Meg the fearless talker saves the day. She will be the one at the circus who introduces Mirabelle and does all the talking. the illustrator of this smashing picture book says her picture are 'retro modern with a cute twist' and so they are. Full of the brightness and fun of the circus they will be enjoyed by parents and children alike. * Books for Keeps *

Everyone expects identical twins to be clones of each other, enjoying the same things, excelling at the same subjects, eating the same foods and so on.
In Fearless Mirabelle, the Moffats are delighted at the arrival of their twins. They are circus performers and are overjoyed to see that Mirabelle has inherited their acrobatic skills. Meg, however, confounds them. She talks and talks and reads but when is comes to trying to perform on the trapeze platform...
As someone who has had issues with heights, I love the description of Meg's fear:
"Her legs wobbled like jellyfish. Her hands shook like earthquakes. Her toes trembled like turkeys"
The parents encourage her to try many circus skills, but Meg has no talent for them and shuts herself away. It is not until Mirabelle finds herself in a really scary place, that Meg discovers her voice and her forte. Together the twins become a fabulous double act.
This is a lovely story about families, children discovering they are different but equal each with their own unique personality and aptitudes. The circus setting is fun and lends itself well to Nila Aye's talent for illustration and depicting just the right expression.
A fun book to explore with young children and older ones who like to read picture books. Fearless Mirabelle offers lots of opportunities for discussions about feelings and being different.

* Parenting Without Tears *
Fearless Mirabelle is an appealing book, joyfully celebrating differences between siblings. Mirabelle and Meg Moffat are twins, and their parents are famous circus acrobat. Mirabelle loves to climb, sewing and do acrobatics, whereas Meg prefers to talk, read and swim. AS the new circus opens, it seems that Mirabelle is fearless and will be the star of the show. Meanwhile Meg, who is afraid of heights, keeps in the background, until she gets the opportunity to prove there is more than one way to be brave. This warm and witty picture book perfectly illustrates how even the closest of siblings can be very different, and that everyone has their own individual strengths/ The circus setting allows this important message to be told in a very entertaining and quite original way. Nila Aye's striking illustrations have a limited colour palette, similar to circus posters, emphasisng Katie Haworth's amusing and moving text. This is an important tale that parents will enjoy sharing with their children, and of course it can be applied to friendships too, not just sibling rivalry. -- Jane Hall * Carousel *