Little Sap And Monsieur Rodin

This work provides engaging, child-centred introduction to one of the best artists of all time. This is a charming, multi-faceted story that perfectly accompanies classroom exploration of the arts, history and social studies. It's 1906 and the court dancers in the Cambodian royal palace are excited by the news of a trip to France for the Colonial Exhibition. Little Sap, a poor country girl who joined the dance troupe to give her family a better life, is apprehensive about travelling to a faraway land. In Paris, the artist Auguste Rodin is captivated by the classical beauty of Cambodian dance. He insists on sketching the dancers, especially Little Sap. As Rodin's pencil sweeps across his paper, Little Sap's worries melt away. She realises how much she has grown as a dancer and how far she has come in fulfilling her special duty to her family. With grace and imagination, this touching story relives the historical encounter between Rodin and Little Sap, weaving together the hopes and aspirations of a young girl and the beauty of artistic expression.