The Nutcracker

Susan Jeffer's adaptation of The Nutcracker is truly extraordinary, and I loved it. The main idea of this story is that you can and should let your imagination run wild! Fantasy worlds are just beyond reach, within our own minds. One reason I love this book is because of the large illustrations and

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limited text. Even though there isn't much written on each page, the pictures are extremely large and elaborate, and therefore tell more than the text does. For example, in the first pages when they're showing the family getting read for the party, they show the house like a dollhouse, showing the attic and kitchens and adjoining rooms. I really like that even though the text doesn't say the specifics of what's going on in the house, you can look at all of the little pictures of the rooms and explore what people are doing to get ready for the party. I also like this book because of the detail of emotion in the illustrated characters' faces. Again, because of limited text, the elaborate drawings of people's faces (such as Clara's and Herr Drosselmeier's) show how they are feeling, and allow the reader to relate.

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Susan Jeffers story, “The Nutcracker” is an excellent example of the traditional ballet for young children. I enjoyed reading this story because of the simple text and luminous illustrations. The writing itself was short and to the point, thus providing a great introduction for children to

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understand. However, the pictures were large, taking up the whole page, and included much detail. The illustrations were created with light, subtle colors, clearly depicting the classical and elegant drama. The pictures allowed the reader to understand the characters through their emotions. Take Marie for example. She was radiant, blushing and smiling, when she first received the wooden Nutcracker, but fearful when her brother threw him in the air. I think the big idea of this story is to provide an understanding of the famous ballet to young children, while staying true to the ballet, and encouraging children’s imagination and dreams.

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A retelling of the Nutcracker ballet (which is already a retelling, of course). Well done, and the real star here is the pictures, which are stunning. Also for the nieces.

Celebrated children's author and artist Susan Jeffers turns her attention to the ballet The Nutcracker in this lovely holiday picture-book. Pairing a simple text with beautiful artwork (created in watercolor, I believe), she spins the magical tale of Marie, who is given a wooden Nutcracker by her

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godfather for Christmas. All of the major incidents of the ballet - the battle between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King, the visit to the Land of Sweets, the national dances performed there - follow, as Marie's wonderful dream (or is it?) unfolds. The book concludes with the information that the Prince/Nutcracker eventually returns to marry Marie, when she is grown...

Jeffers' The Nutcracker is the sixth picture-book retelling of this tale that I have read, following upon versions presented by Alison Jay, Niroot Puttapipat, Shobhna Patel, Grace Maccarone, and Renate Raecke. I've also read a number of picture-books - Tallulah's Nutcracker, Ella Bella Ballerina and The Nutcracker, Zombelina Dances The Nutcracker - depicting young ballerinas either performing this ballet or learning about it. Suffice it to say, this is a popular topic for picture-books, although apparently in 2007, when Jeffers was considering working on this version, there was far less available. Her presentation is just lovely, and I particularly appreciated the spreads which contained multiple panels, showing various different scenes at once. The paintings here are rich, and quite appealing, capturing the charm of the story, and the detailed costumes and backdrops of each scene. I don't know that this is my absolute favorite, of the retellings I have read - that is probably the Puttapipat version - but it is quite winsome. Recommended to Jeffers' fans, and to anyone looking for excellent picture-books devoted to the story of The Nutcracker ballet.

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