When Marie and her brother Fritz receive a special
Christmas nutcracker from their uncle, Marie immediately feels something
magical. "He looks like a real boy," she mused. "A real boy with
a secret, who came from far away."
This feeling is only the beginning of the epic adventure
she goes on with the Nutcracker—into the cabinet, through the battle with the
mice, and finally to the magical land of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
I loved this new book from the ever-talented Jan Brett.
The illustrations are breathtaking. The main images on each page tell the
classic story of ETA Hoffmann's Nutcracker, from Herr Drosselmeyer's figures to
Marie's love for her nutcracker through the battle with the Mouse King and the
journey through the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy. The illustrations are rich
with color and detail, with new things to notice every time you read it. I was
especially tickled to see the hedgehogs with the flowers on their prickles.
In Brett's classic style, there is also a story playing
out in the side panels of each page. Part is details of what is to come or is
happening along with the main page. The
other parts show the animals in the orchestra, playing the music that goes
along with the story.
I've seen comments about the lack of dancing and
disappointment that it doesn't look like the ballet, so many people are familiar
with. The story is based on the original by ETA Hoffmann, published in 1816,
which was only adapted to ballet much later (1892). Brett herself says that it
was the music that inspired her vision. Russia is the book's setting because
the music invokes Ms. Brett's visits to Russia. In 1847, famous French author
Alexandre Dumas rewrote Hoffmann's story, removing some of its darker elements
and changing the name to Clara.
This is an outstanding addition to my collection of Brett
books which I started around 1991.
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