Review by Booklist Review
Chosen to dance as one of the mice in a professional production of The Nutcracker, Tallulah is walking on air and dreaming of glory. Her debut brings her down to earth, though, after she steps on another mouse's tail and causes a pileup of mice and soldiers. Poetic justice has its moment, but the story doesn't end there. It takes an unexpected turn after the performance in a tender, yet amusing backstage scene in which experienced dancers reminisce about their own embarrassing moments onstage. Boiger creates a vivid sense of music and movement in the graceful watercolor illustrations. A fresh addition to the Tallulah series.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Budding ballerina Tallulah is over the moon when she learns that she will be a mouse in The Nutcracker. Even though there are 11 other mice in the production, and it's not exactly glamorous to dress as a mouse, Tallulah takes her role seriously (she even misses out on selecting a Christmas tree because of rehearsal). But a mistake on opening night leaves Tallulah in tears until a few seasoned dancers offer their own stories of on-stage foibles. As in the previous Tallulah books, Boiger's muted watercolors offer understated elegance, while Singer gingerly addresses how the wisdom of caring adults and role models can bring valuable perspective to a moment of humiliation. Ages 4-8. Illustrator's agent: Marcia Wernick, Wernick & Pratt. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-In this fourth picture book about ballet-crazy Tallulah, the child is chosen to be a mouse in a professional production of The Nutcracker. Thrilled, she throws herself into rehearsals, determined to be the best mouse on stage. Opening night brings an embarrassing onstage mishap, and Tallulah is devastated until the dance master and the older girls who danced Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy tell her of their own past missteps, and Tallulah's enthusiasm is renewed. With expressive, insouciant watercolor illustrations, ballet terms like "sissone" sprinkled sparingly throughout the text, and the obligatory glitter-heavy jacket art, this is a charming holiday choice.-Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Dancing in The Nutcracker is not what Tallulah expected: rehearsals are tiring (and a bit boring); she misses out on pre-Christmas activities; and her mouse costume is not at all elegant. Worst of all, on the big night, a stage frightstricken Tallulah inadvertently causes a pile-up of mice and toy soldiers. Backstage, her teacher, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Clara regale her with their own performance mistakes and remind her of what being a dancer is all about. Gentle text and warm watercolor and gouache (mixed with egg yolk) illustrations together offer an un-sugar-coated, but humorous, portrayal of life in the theater for young dancersand an encouraging example for any reader. katie bircher (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In the fourth entry in the popular series about budding ballerina Tallulah, she wins a part as a mouse in a professional production of The Nutcracker, but the performance doesn't turn out as she imagines. Tallulah is thrilled when she begins rehearsals with a professional ballet company for their holiday production. She and the other mice are taught by the ballet master, and Tallulah tries hard to be the most enthusiastic mouse in the cast. While spunky Tallulah is full of drive and passion for ballet, she also develops a bit of an attitude and begins to brag to her dance-class friends and brother. On opening night, Tallulah steps on the tail of another mouse, causing a chain accident of fallen mice and soldiers. She is comforted backstage by the ballet master and the dancers playing Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy, who share their own stories of performance mishaps. The story unfolds with skillful pacing and a delicate balance between Tallulah's free-wheeling thoughts (indicated in a different typeface) and the dramatic tension of the ballet rehearsals and performance. Boiger's whimsical watercolors are beautifully composed, creating captivating scenes of dance class, the backstage area and the performance. Tallulah shines as a real little dancer with her own distinct style, learning step by step. (Picture book. 4-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
