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The Chandeliers
Night after night, little Rufus Chandelier watches from the wings while the rest of his family puts on “the greatest show in town.” But Rufus isn’t quite big enough to be a part of the show. Until the night when everything goes terribly wrong, and it is Rufus Chandelier who makes certain that the show goes on. With winsome, colorful illustrations, Vincent X. Kirsch’s entertaining story shows that the greatest reward is simply the chance to help others—no matter how little you might be.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 7, 2012
14 people want to read
About the author
Vincent X. Kirsch
16 books20 followersVincent X. Kirsch is an award-winning author and illustrator working in California. He graduated from Syracuse University and studied Editorial Design, Filmmaking, and Scenic Design.
Vincent got his lucky break in picture books when a children’s book editor noticed his color illustration style in the pages of The New York Times Book Review and thought it was a perfect match for children’s books.
Vincent’s work is influenced by his fascination with theater, puppetry, poster art, classical painting techniques, and Hollywood films. His whimsical stories and characters range from the fantastically out-of-this-world to inspiringly down-to-earth. In the past, his fanciful work was done with paint, ink, graphite, paper, and glue, but lately, he has been creating spectacular digital images in ProCreate.
He also creates enchanting three-dimensional toy theaters and animations under the venture known as Paperbox Playhouses.
Before writing and illustrating books, Vincent wore many hats, such as designing graphics for Broadway shows and book jackets, editorial illustrator for major newspapers and magazines, and windows and interior installations at Bergdorf Goodman. He was also the Director of Visual Merchandising for all the Dean & Deluca shops worldwide.
He has been a popular guest lecturer in classrooms, colleges, museums, and podcasts, sharing what he has learned about writing, illustrating, life, and everything. He also writes chapter books, screenplays, television scripts, and stage plays and composes music.
Vincent brings a unique and compelling sensibility to books for the young and young-at-heart.
Vincent got his lucky break in picture books when a children’s book editor noticed his color illustration style in the pages of The New York Times Book Review and thought it was a perfect match for children’s books.
Vincent’s work is influenced by his fascination with theater, puppetry, poster art, classical painting techniques, and Hollywood films. His whimsical stories and characters range from the fantastically out-of-this-world to inspiringly down-to-earth. In the past, his fanciful work was done with paint, ink, graphite, paper, and glue, but lately, he has been creating spectacular digital images in ProCreate.
He also creates enchanting three-dimensional toy theaters and animations under the venture known as Paperbox Playhouses.
Before writing and illustrating books, Vincent wore many hats, such as designing graphics for Broadway shows and book jackets, editorial illustrator for major newspapers and magazines, and windows and interior installations at Bergdorf Goodman. He was also the Director of Visual Merchandising for all the Dean & Deluca shops worldwide.
He has been a popular guest lecturer in classrooms, colleges, museums, and podcasts, sharing what he has learned about writing, illustrating, life, and everything. He also writes chapter books, screenplays, television scripts, and stage plays and composes music.
Vincent brings a unique and compelling sensibility to books for the young and young-at-heart.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 22, 2019
A stage family par excellence, the Chandeliers, from writer/director/designer Mr. Maximilian Chandelier to dancing prodigy Daffodil Chandelier, were all famous for their various talents. Only Rufus, the youngest and most obscure member of this performing giraffe ensemble, remained behind the scenes. Despite that fact, or perhaps because of it, he managed to save the show on a consistent basis, until eventually he too received the accolades he deserved...
The second picture-book I have read from author/artist Vincent Kirsch, following upon his The Two Little Boys from Toolittle Toys , The Chandeliers has that same mix of quirky characters, madcap adventure, and appealing artwork. I appreciated the decorative end-papers, in which Kirsch sets out his cast of characters, and thought the illustrations throughout were quite amusing. The story itself is engaging, and ultimately heartwarming, as Rufus eventually gets the recognition he has coming, for working so hard behind the scenes. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books addressing life on stage, or the theme of being the youngest in a family.
The second picture-book I have read from author/artist Vincent Kirsch, following upon his The Two Little Boys from Toolittle Toys , The Chandeliers has that same mix of quirky characters, madcap adventure, and appealing artwork. I appreciated the decorative end-papers, in which Kirsch sets out his cast of characters, and thought the illustrations throughout were quite amusing. The story itself is engaging, and ultimately heartwarming, as Rufus eventually gets the recognition he has coming, for working so hard behind the scenes. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books addressing life on stage, or the theme of being the youngest in a family.
October 10, 2012
Rufus is the younger member of the famous Chandelier family of giraffes. Every night he watches the rest of his family perform in the greatest show in town, until one night when things seem to go just a little bit wrong. Mrs. Daphne Chandelier goes onstage without her parasol, but Rufus brings it to her. Mr. Maximilian Chandelier forgets the words to his monologue, but Rufus reminds him. Rufus makes sure the moon is onstage at the right time and even provides special effects. At the end of the show as they do every night the Chandeliers take bow after bow. But that night they stopped and turned to the audience and said, “We could not have done it without the wonderful Rufus Chandelier!” And that night, for the first time, Rufus took a bow too.
The text, written in third person past tense is short and direct. The story is simple and nearly without conflict, however the fabulously stylized illustrations more than make up for this shortcoming. With tight line work and busy compositions, the tall Chandeliers decked out in brightly colored, curlicued finery stand out against the painted scenery. Kirsch has chosen an old vaudevillian style theatre, complete with red velvet curtains, scalloped footlights, and glowing proscenium arches. Keep your eyes open for the many hidden visual details in this quirky book, such as the tiny mouse-like giraffe that can be found on every page and the many giraffe shapes hidden throughout the book. I’m an endpaper lover and was thrilled to find that the front papers provide bios, like the ones you find in a theatre playbill, and the back papers show the family leaving the stage door at the end of the night.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
The text, written in third person past tense is short and direct. The story is simple and nearly without conflict, however the fabulously stylized illustrations more than make up for this shortcoming. With tight line work and busy compositions, the tall Chandeliers decked out in brightly colored, curlicued finery stand out against the painted scenery. Kirsch has chosen an old vaudevillian style theatre, complete with red velvet curtains, scalloped footlights, and glowing proscenium arches. Keep your eyes open for the many hidden visual details in this quirky book, such as the tiny mouse-like giraffe that can be found on every page and the many giraffe shapes hidden throughout the book. I’m an endpaper lover and was thrilled to find that the front papers provide bios, like the ones you find in a theatre playbill, and the back papers show the family leaving the stage door at the end of the night.
Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...
May 16, 2022
The creation of characters for this book is top notch. Very appealing illustrations and entertaining descriptions. The text is succinct enough for younger kids and quite amusing. You don’t want to miss this…especially if your child likes giraffes.
July 8, 2018
Is a fun example for 3420 students interested in theatre.
September 28, 2012
I like theater. And I like cute giraffes in picture books. So the two of these put together are fun. Rufus Chandelier is the smallest in the family of stage performers. As such he doesn't actually get to perform on the stage. However, he ends up doing everything else backstage to make sure the family performance goes over well.
Although I think it a little far-fetched that the youngest child would be worked quite that hard (and he never complains so perhaps he really likes doing it) it is fun to see the family realize that without the youngest member they really couldn't function as a stage trope.
I also enjoyed the illustrations. I liked all the frufru dresses and costumes. I liked seeing the bits of backstage (especially since I loved being backstage when doing theater myself). And, that Rufus is just so darn cute.
This is a great book for those youngsters who need a little proof that even though they can't do everything everyone else in the family can (yet) they are just as (if not more) important.
Although I think it a little far-fetched that the youngest child would be worked quite that hard (and he never complains so perhaps he really likes doing it) it is fun to see the family realize that without the youngest member they really couldn't function as a stage trope.
I also enjoyed the illustrations. I liked all the frufru dresses and costumes. I liked seeing the bits of backstage (especially since I loved being backstage when doing theater myself). And, that Rufus is just so darn cute.
This is a great book for those youngsters who need a little proof that even though they can't do everything everyone else in the family can (yet) they are just as (if not more) important.
August 17, 2012
Fun look at the backstage and onstage life of a theatrical family of giraffes, and their youngest member who saves their necks with regularity. Art not as distinct as I'd like, so the visual humor is somewhat blunted.
August 22, 2012
A slender (ha) story kind of all about the silly, but with a nice shout-out to the essential contributions of all the stage hands and admin assistants of the world. Art style reminds me just a bit of the 60s vibe of books like What Do You Say, Dear? or May I Bring a Friend?
February 3, 2013
The art is so similar to Quentin Blake's that I flipped through the entire book several times to see if his name was mentioned anywhere.
LOVE the program bios in the front endpapers of the book. The theater geek in me adorrrrres it.
I love everything about this book.
LOVE the program bios in the front endpapers of the book. The theater geek in me adorrrrres it.
I love everything about this book.
August 6, 2012
Giraffe theatre family.
August 15, 2012
Very silly, but a good message. The illustrations are intricate.
September 5, 2012
A little gem of a picture book. The inside covers describing the Chandelier family are hilarious.
September 9, 2012
The star does not always make him self so.
November 13, 2012
LOVED this book about the giraffe performing family, THE CHANDELIERS. Fun backstage things all theatre loving people will enjoy. Great children's story!!!
February 20, 2013
Loved the 60s-70's-esque illustrations. Slight story, but fun. Look for the mouse wearing a giraffe headdress on each page!
March 24, 2013
I started laughing from the get-go because of the wonderful, hilarious illustrations.
July 12, 2013
What a lovely tribute to stage managers and stage hands. It would make a lovely gift to the backstage crew at any show.
June 22, 2014
Rufus Chandelier proves that even the youngest member of the theater family can play many important roles. Fun book for young ones to see what happens behind the scenes.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews