Anne Schwartz, v-p and publisher, Anne Schwartz Books
Madame Saqui: Revolutionary Rope Dancer by Lisa Robinson, illustrated by Rebecca Green, is a glorious picture book about an exceptional woman who lived during the French Revolution, performing feats on a highwire for an audience that often included Napoleon. It is nonfiction at its best—a fascinating subject, dramatic setting, kid-friendly text, and exquisite illustrations. A perfect handsell for independent bookstores, as well as for classrooms, but it couldn’t reach its audience, alas. Poor Lisa Robinson was doubly unlucky; her second nonfiction picture book—Were I Not a Girl: The Inspiring and True Story of Dr. James Barry—was also published during Covid.