Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Maccarone (Princess Tales) and French illustrator Chauffrey present an odd adaptation of Hoffman's 1816 story, which spawned the famous Tchaikovsky ballet some 80 years later. Nutcrackers are often an eerie bunch, but Chauffrey's version can be especially creepy: during the party in which the wooden soldier debuts, his long, corkscrewing tongue flicks a nut into Godfather Drosselmeyer's waiting mouth. And although Maccarone describes the Nutcracker, somewhat unpleasantly, as "expos[ing] its teeth like a smiling chimp," it's Chauffrey's almost-identical-looking human characters that are the most simian in appearance. Maccarone's writing is at times clunky ("Only Clara could see beyond the useful function and homely face to a soul that was good and kind"), keeping readers at arms' length, and the dream segments of the story get short shrift, which may disappoint fans of the ballet's spirited dance sequences. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-This simplified adaptation of the E.T.A. Hoffmann story follows the traditional plot of the ballet that many children will see during the Christmas holidays. What is different about this version are Chauffrey's illustrations, which are jewel-toned and dreamy while still accessible to young audiences. The inclusion of dark-haired characters and international dancers from Spain, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Japan, and Russia is a real plus. VERDICT A refreshing twist on the usual Eurocentric approach.-Virginia Walter, UCLA School of Education and Information Studies © Copyright 2016. 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
This accessible retelling of E. T. A. Hoffmann's story emphasizes Clara's emotional experience of this magical night and the qualities that make her deserving of it. Textured jewel-toned illustrations are festive and welcoming. Both text and art attempt to correct the tale's frequently stereotypical portrayals of visitors to the Land of Sweets from "faraway lands"--with varying success. Bib. (c) Copyright 2017. 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
This large-format retelling of the story from the popular holiday-season ballet focuses on the family party scene and the battle between the mice and the soldiers, with just a brief concluding visit to the Land of Sweets. The story begins with a full page of text setting the scene for the party and the forthcoming conflict between Clara and her brother, mischief-making Fritz. The text in the rest of the book is set off in shorter text blocks on each page, at the top or bottom of full-page illustrations, sometimes obscuring part of the illustration in an intrusive way. The first 16 pages of the book focus on the party, with scenes of dancing, entertainment, and the children playing with their toys. The boys and girls in the party scenes look remarkably alike, almost all with dark hair and eyes, olive skin, and little variation in facial shape. This lack of differentiation among the child characters is also an issue with the boy who is freed from that Nutcracker enchantment, as he and Clara look like brother and sister. The illustration style is dark and surrealistic, with a shadowy, ominous atmosphere overall and a distinctly scary Godfather Drosselmeyer. The charms of the Land of Sweets are tasted only briefly in just one spread showing dancers from different countries. A disappointing effort that fails to capture the magic inherent in the ballet. (bibliography) (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
