The Not So Quiet Life of Marcel Marceau

A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP

Levine Querido

(pub. 4.7.2026)

48 pages

Ages 4 - 8

Author: Jenn Bailey & Sherry Bushue

   Illustrator: Pamela Zagarenski

Character: Marcel Marceau

Overview:

"Marcel was born in 1923 in the French city of Strasbourg. He was drawn to the flickering images of Charlie Chaplin in the movies, and he had a gift for imitating the birds around him, the people, and even the wind!

But his safe, creative childhood was shattered by the advent of World War II and the anti-Jewish laws that demonized his Jewish family. Before long, his family was forced to flee in the wake of the advancing German army. His artistic talents were applied to forging papers and passports for those trying to escape. He disguised himself as a Scout leader in order to lead younger children over the border to safety, keeping them calm with dancing, singing, and stories told in mime. Even border guards were swayed and distracted by his entertaining antics.

Surviving the war, this talented young boy became renowned around the world as Marcel Marceau, the most famous mime of the twentieth century. "

Tantalizing taste:

" And so Marcel reaches back to childhood games of pretend, now deadly serious - to charm the soldiers, to please the guards, to pass the checkpoints.

Dressed as a Boy Scout leader, Marcel keeps a group of the children entertained with songs, riddles, and stories told in mime.

He makes the perilous journey again and again until ALL THE ORPHANS ARE FREE."

And something more: The MORE ABOUT MARCEL MARCEAU section explains: "Even as the war and his Resistance work continued, Marcel began to study drama ... His teachers called Marcel 'a natural mime,' and he embraced this silent and artistically graceful form of acting. He practiced in front of the children at the orphanage, providing welcome entertainment. These children were his first audience and throughout his life Marcel felt children understood his art better than anyone."