Madame Butterfly: The Story of the Opera by Giacomo Puccini
Grade 5 Up–A picture book with a text adapted straight from the libretto of Puccinis opera. The illustrations are exotic representations of static scenes in a lovely palette of golden earth tones enriched with rusty red, clear white, and definitive black. For readers new to the world of opera, this would be a good introduction to the world of Cho-Cho-san and her tragic love affair. However, the stilted language might prove an obstacle. Another difficulty might lie in explaining the heroines suicide while in the same room with her young son (though Cho-Cho-san retires behind a discreet screen for the actual moment), especially to those not familiar with the bravura gestures of grand opera. The book is eye-catching, pleasing to opera buffs, and a faithful introduction to those about to attend their first performance. But, oh! It sadly lacks those soaring arias.–Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.