Customer Reviews:
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 My childhood favorite November 28, 2007
When I was about five, my father would read to me from this book every night at bedtime and it is one of my fondest memories of my childhood. One year he took me to see the Nutcracker Ballet and I remembered the whole story from this book. Now that I am a mother, I looked for this book for my own daughter and immediately recognized the cover even though it has been over 20 years! I was so pleasantly surprised to realize it was Maurice Sendak who had illustrated it. He is also the author of my other favorite book from my youth, Outside Over There, of which I have a signed first edition that I will pass on to my daughter. I was sad to have lost track of this book, but delighted to have tracked it down again. I hope my daughter cherishes it as much as I did, and I look forward to reading it to her when she is a bit older.
 Wonderful memories November 17, 2007
When I was young, about eight or nine years old, I desperately wanted to be a ballerina and dance in the Nutcracker. My family had gone to see a production the year before and when we went that year, I begged for a Nutcracker all my own. My mom said no, but if I asked "Santa" for one, maybe there would be one at Christmas. Well, I did, and there was none under the tree on Christmas morning. Little did I know that my aunt had was about to give me a signed copy of this book, and a Nutcracker to go with it. I will never forget curling up on the couch Christmas night, Nutcracker under one arm, and was transported to a distant land as I read and was lost in the wonderful illustrations. To this day, many years later, I still enjoy getting this book out at Christmas time and curling up on the couch. The drawings are wonderful and to this day they draw me in. It is a beautiful book, one I have cherished for many years, and one that I hope to share with my children some day.
Great for ALL ages! December 30, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
When I was a child I had this book , as well as two audio tape versions of the story. ( one read by Claire Bloom, the other by Christopher Plummer, both are great!) If you go to see the ballet without knowing the backstory it doesn't make much sense.
I also totally disagree that the book ( and the audio versions for that matter) are only good for older children and adults. While the language may be more complex than some story books there is no reason why a young child can't understand it. If parents expose their children to more sophisticated language then they learn it. Toomany books, cds, tv shows etc... talk down to children! If a child is never exposed to language then they can't learn it. My mother and father never talked down or baby talked to me, and exposed me to a wide variety of books, when I was 2 I said "I presume...." in answer to a question my mother asked me. LOL :-)
Just a though.
 Not suitable for young children December 26, 2005
62 out of 71 found this review helpful
My daughter loves the Nutcracker ballet and I thought it would be good for her to know the full story behind it (I had never heard it myself). The previous reviews and comments on the beautiful illustrations led me to believe this would be a great choice for my 5 year old daughter.
The illustrations are very similar in style to those in Where the Wild Things Are. If you don't like that book, you won't like the illustrations in this one. Also be aware that this is NOT a picture book. There is a very high ratio of text to illustrations.
I also feel the text is inappropriate for young children. The actual story is very dark and the language, while beautiful, is above the vocabulary and experience of most young children. ( "These intrepid and magnificently uniformed troops, consisting of gardeners, Tyroleans, Tunguses, barbers, harlequins, cupids, lions, and tigers, and monkeys, fought with coolness, courage, and perseverance. With their Spartan bravery, this elite regiment would have wrested the victory from the enemy, had not a daring mouse captain leaped into the fray and bitten the head off one of the Chinese emperors, who in falling crushed two Tunguses and a monkey." p32)
I WOULD recommend this book for older children.
Nutcracker Lover October 2, 2005
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
Excellent book and an all time favorite for Christmas or any time...............The needed companion for the ballet !
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