Recounts the life and accomplishments of the master of mime.

From the age of five, Marcel Marceau knew he wanted to be a silent actor, just like Charlie Chaplin. When World War II intervened, he joined the resistance, helping to get young Jews to safety during this dangerous time. But Marcel never forgot his dream of being a mime artist and entertaining the world.

From the age of five, Marcel Marceau knew he wanted to be a silent actor, just like Charlie Chaplin. When World War II intervened, he joined the resistance, helping to get young Jews to safety during this dangerous time. But Marcel never forgot his dream of being a mime artist and entertaining the world.

Profiles the life and career of the mime Marcel Marceau.

A hilarious visual smorgasbord, this vibrant photo narrative offers a quiet, introspective look into life as a silent emoter. Replete with images of actor and mime artist Doug Jones shot against an array of artistic and real-world backdrops, this social commentary spoofs pop culture and fairy tale favorites. Witty photo parodies include Frank ‘n mime, Marilyn Mime-roe, Mime-hammad Ali, Mime a Llama ding-dong, and Mimeageddon, as well as the “Once Upon a Mime” tales in which the big bad wolf gets bested in a series of mime encounters based on Little Red Miming Hood and the Three Little Pigs—poking fun at legendary personalities, characters, and moments while showcasing photographer Eric Curtis's trademark vision.

Silence can be powerful. Kathy Kacer’s second book in her middle grade series about heroic rescues during WWII tells the tale of siblings Helen and Henry, and history’s most famous mime. Desperate to save them from the Nazis, Henry and Helen’s mother makes the harrowing decision to take her children from their home in 1940s Germany and leave them in the care of strangers in France. The brother and sister must hide their Jewish identity to pass for orphans being fostered at a convent in the foreign land. Visits from a local mime become the children’s one source of joy, especially for Henry, whose traumatic experience has left him a selective mute. When an informer gives them up, the children are forced to flee yet again from the Nazis, but this time the local mime—a not yet famous Marcel Marceau—risks everything to try to save the children. Masters of Silence shows award-winning author Kathy Kacer at the top of her craft, bringing to light the little-known story of Marceau’s heroic work for the French Resistance. Marceau would go on to save hundreds of children from Nazi concentration camps and death during WWII. In characteristic Kacer style, Masters of Silence is dramatic and engaging, and highlights the courage of both those rescuing and the rescued themselves. Wenting Li’s chapter heading illustrations and evocative covers provide the perfect visuals for the series.