B reviews,  Bug,  sponsored post

The Nutcracker: A Magic Theatre Book (a review)

Nutcracker Book on chair

I have the most beautiful, magical, amazing children’s book to share with you. Sometimes reviews are difficult for me to write because I hate to say anything bad about a product that has been given to me by someone who is paying me to write about it. But I also want to be truthful to you readers because my word is my word after all. So you can imagine how wonderful it is when I sign up for a product I that would rave about without even being paid. This book is that product. I don’t think I can rave about it enough. It’s so pretty! So beautifully illustrated! I just want to eat it! I think my photos will tell you all you need to see but I’ll rattle on anyway.

The princess reads

I bribed Bug with frozen yogurt and a trip to a local nail salon to get her to pose for these photos because, as you know, she’s not a girly girl anymore and she only likes to be seen wearing black, preferably black Hello Kitty. But to tell you the truth, when she opened up this book and we talked about dressing up to play a part in one of her favorite ballets, you should have seen the gleam in her eye. She might lead you to believe she’s too much of a tomboy to wear tutus and prance around to Tchaikovsky but she’s totally fooling herself. That girly-girl is still in there and she loved this book. We both do.

reading

Bug can read now so it’s twice as much fun. I’ve seen the Nutcracker on stage but Bug has not yet though she’s heard about it plenty and seen small parts of it when the big girls performed at her dance recital. She’s seen Swan Lake with her dad and loved it. So I think it’s time we got tickets to see The Nutcracker now that the holiday season is so quickly approaching. I know! I’m sorry! I hate to be the one to remind you.

peeking through

This book is the perfect introduction to the famous story. I love how touchable it is even though it is a pop-up book. I’ve long been frustrated with pop-up books. They are usually written for really young children but really young children love to rip up pop-up books. This book is can be appreciated by just about anyone at any age. I love looking at it. How the characters pop into the circle when you turn the page is fascinating.

Here’s a movie so you can see for yourself:

Isn’t it pretty? I wish snow fell when you turned the pages but that’s just a special effect of the movie. It does make me want to scoot closer to my heater and look out a window at snow that is not there. It’s fun to dream…

pretty cut outs

The Black Cat Flashlight stands in for Captain Nutcracker

Here is Bug with her Black Cat flashlight that also has a jaw that snaps up and down like a nutcracker. She was in character to say the least.

fluttering

beautiful illustrations

Thank you, Nutcracker, for bringing back my old Bug to me. I missed her.

reading 2

dress-up unleashed

It’s a good thing I never got rid of all her old dress up clothes.

ballerina feet

swan

silly princess

So if you have a girly-girl in your life or someone who loves ballet as much as we do, I say: you must get this book. It’s so pretty and very well made. You can buy it here and I have a 25% discount for you if you purchase it before November 30th, 2012. Just enter the promo code NUTCRACKER when you check out.

And guess what?!! I have one beaufiful book to give away. It’s sitting on my bookshelf right now so we don’t even have to worry about it being shipped from the manufacturer. I’ll send it to you personally. Bug might even write you a little note to go with it.

The Nutcracker

Feeling lucky? Just comment below about what is special to you when you think of The Nutcracker and I will randomly pick one winner next Monday. I can’t wait to hear your stories!

56 Comments

  • Danna

    I was a dancer for most of my life so The Nutcracker was a staple in that part of my life. I still know a lot of the choreography and “dance” it in my head when I hear the music. (it’s really the only holiday music I can stomach over and over)

    This is a beautiful book.

    Thanks!
    Danna

  • Jamie F

    The Nutcracker reminds of Christmas as a child. So many good memories of my family and spending the holidays together. I know my daughter would love this book. Thanks for sharing.

  • Susan:)

    My almost five yr old niece would love that book! We took her to see the Nutcracker last year, and she was enthralled. She still wants to hear that story over and over again!

  • Sally Hackney

    I so want to see The Nutcracker again. I took my two youngest when I was homeschooling them. They were 1st and 2nd grade age then and now they’re 29 and 30! We simply had a magical time. I smile now when I think of it.

  • Cathy

    My now 17 yo daughter has danced in the park n rec version of The Nutcracker each year since she was 7 years old – she loves dance and it is her outlet. She would have loved this book at Bug’s age! Good to see the “old” Bug and absolutely gorgeous shots you got of her!

  • Chelsea

    My daughter loves the nutcracker and once the holiday season starts we watch it almost every day. She is only three and can identify the music when she hears it and not just the Sugar Plum Fairy, but any part of the score that is used in advertising or movies. I think that is pretty cool!

  • Shelley

    My son (5) and daughter (4) both love The Nutcracker. In fact, it was the only reason I got my son to sign up for dance class again this fall. He will be the nutcracker prince in their recital and my daughter will be a mouse princess. This book would be the perfect backstage gift for my little dancers.

  • Annika

    My father has been in the ballet orchestra since before I was born. One of my earliest memories is of a Nutcracker when my little sister was maaaybe two years old. She sat rapt at attention, totally captivated, for the whole ballet.

  • Lisa

    Oh, wow. We got to see Nutcracker in NYC when I was 7 or 8, I remember the spectacle, the magic of it. I can’t wait to share that with my little girls.

  • auntie keren

    Oh yes, go see it on stage, there is nothing like the live performance! Then rent or buy the DVD. Reason being…I remember going to see the Tokyo Ballet perform it when we lived there, it was magical and exciting but, we sat so far up that it was difficult to see the wonderful footwork or hear the score, or experience the story. Of all of the recorded versions of the Nutcracker out there, animated and otherwise, I think The American Ballet: Baryshnikov/Kirkland effort is by far the best.

  • Brooke

    What is special to me about the Nutcracker is that my non-girly-used-to-do-ballet-but-too-cool-for-it-now girl is now 5 and officially old enough to take the the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Nutcracker! Can’t wait : )

  • AllisonJolliff

    I don’t think I’ve ever seen The Nutcracker live, but as a kid we had the Little Golden Book, and I remember reading it over and over and over. I’m now pregnant with our first child, and what a great book for the nursery shelves if we have a girl!

  • Cristine

    I remember getting all dressed up to go and see the nutcracker as a little girl. I can’t wait to take my little girls!

  • Carrie

    I remember as a girl going to see the Nutcracker with a friend by ourselves. We felt very, very grown up and it’s been a treasured memory of mine for over 20 years. I’m excited to give my daughter a similar experience when she gets older.

  • Yara

    I went to see The Nutcracker in elementary school, on a field trip.
    This post made me realize my girls haven’t seen it. I think I should take them, they’d probably love it.

  • Ashlea

    I remember going on a fieldtrip with my classmates to see The Nutcracker and how much fun we had being outside the classroom. My daughter is nearly four and I know she too, would love to see the play.

  • Claire

    I love the Nutcracker and am just waiting and waiting until my 2 and 4 year old are old enough to join me (and really enjoy it). What a perfect introduction for my little ballerinas this will be!

  • Meighan

    I love the Nutcracker. I remember going to see the ballet with my Mom and Grandma. I cannot wait to take my daughter when she is a bit older. My daughter, who just started dance this year, would love to see this book.

  • Shabnam

    I like the Nutcracker because it has something for everyone. All ages and sexes can relate to someone in the story, even though it is a ballet.

  • Laura Stultz

    I remember getting dressed up in our pretty Christmas dresses and going downtown to see the nutcracker. It was magical for my sisters and I.

  • Melissa

    The Nutcracker is special to me because of two of my sisters. My little sister was always in our local youth symphony orchestra, and they always performed the music for our local nutcracker downtown. My little sister-in-law was a beautiful ballerina training to go professional, and she always danced in the Nutcracker. I would see both performances each year, with all of the family bundled up. One year, they were in the same production, and that was the best! I love it because you see such a wide range of performers… from the adorable kids in the party scene to professionals in the adult roles.

  • KarenW

    My daughter, herself a former girlie girl and now a HUGE fan of black, has the softest of spots for the nutcracker! If funds allow I would love to take her this Christmas to see it on stage. This story just reminds me of Christmas, snuggling, cuddling and watching my daughter lose herself in this story!

  • Kristy

    I never was a girly girl, but I look at that book, and Oh! how I loved it and wish I had girls to share it with (I don’t think my boys would be too thrilled). However, I do have two little nieces who would love that book as much as I do.

  • Erin Frost

    I would love to share this book with my son, who loves ballets and plays. He is one of the most athletic, typically busy boys I know. But he also loves to read, dance and craft (he’s pretty amazing with glitter). He is completely smitten with the Nutcracker story, the Rat/Mouse King is his favorite new villain. I hope you will consider us for the book. I know he would love to share it with his other friends at school, also boys, who love the story.

  • Linda

    I looked at these photos today and remembered years ago when she was a bug (baby) and I started reading your blog, can’t believe how quickly she has grown up, she is such a lovely girl
    Linda

  • Alaina Mc

    It simply makes me think of Christmas and that makes me happy! I have two girls who I hope (when the time comes) find it as magical as I do.

  • erika

    My mother always collected decorative nutcracker men (“Decorative, Erika! Get that pecan outta there!!!”) and I was always fascinated. Even the beautiful, magical theater production reminds me of those big, chunky, wooden men all lined up.

  • Maria

    I was in an elementary school version of the Nutcracker when I was 10 years old and it was so special — the music and story bring it all back to me even now. I have never seen the proper ballet live, but if and when it comes to town, I think I’ll be taking my own little dancer. This book looks beautiful!!

  • Emily

    What an amazing looking book, I love how they have layered the pages.
    What I love about the Nutcracker is when I read the story or listen to the music I am transported to a world of snow and Christmas, with the smell of gingerbread, roasting chestnuts and pine trees. Somewhere very old world European with fur hand warmers and lace up boots. Just magical.

  • Jenny

    The Nutcracker makes me think of my Grandparents who took my brother and I to see a live performance at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago when we were kids. I’ll never forget how magical it was. :)

  • Tabitha

    My most special memory of the Nutcracker is of taking my then five-year old niece to see her first production of it. She was just new to ballet and watching all the “real” dancers on stage in beautiful costume and with professional sets was AMAZING. She sat with her eyes glued to the stage the entire time. I adored every second of that special night and still fondly remember it. If I’m so lucky as to win the book, she’s going to be the recipient of it.

  • ioi

    Ahh, my kids would love this too! They don’t know very much about modern pop music, but they love the classical composers. They’ve been begging me to take them to an orchestra performance for months now, but we’re not sure they’re quite ready for that (I think they’d get too excited and make too much noise for the neighboring spectators). They would be thrilled to have a book version of one of their favorite musical pieces though.

  • Jenn S

    I have only gone to see it once, but I remember how magical it felt watching the tree grow onstage! I can’t wait to bring my son to see it!

  • Raquel

    My six-year-old is still in a pink on pink stage and would love to share this beautiful book with her ballet girlies :) I love the timelessness of the holiday story and the fact that this lovely book will make it possible for children to take the story home.

  • bethany actually

    I know I can’t win because of your personal rules which I fully support, but I happen to have a Nutcracker story to share. :-) When I was in grade school, the 6th graders used to go see a performance of The Nutcracker every year. The year I was to go, we had a snow day…but we went to see the ballet anyway! The school (it was a small Lutheran school) called all the families of kids who were supposed to go and said if we still wanted to go, we could meet the bus at school at X time. It was strangely fun to go on a school field trip on a snow day!

  • Kerry

    I used to watch the Nutcracker over and over with my best friend when I was little. My 3-yr old daughter just started ballet and I think it would be so fun to have her see it as well. Thanks for the discount code! This will make a great Christmas present! But I won’t say no to the giveaway :)

  • Nicole

    Every Christmas all the “girls” (grandma, moms, and little girls) in our family would get all dressed up and go see Nutcracker at a big ol’ fancy theater.

  • Penny

    I would love to read that book to my grandchildren! Also as a side note, I love that picture on your wall of the ducks or geese. Very nice! Where did you find that??

  • Heather

    My aunt gave me a photo book of the Nutcracker ballet when I was around 7. It made me want to take ballet and buy a nutcracker. I still love the story and would love to share the magic with my two young nieces.

  • Alma

    Hey there Josephine, my little princess would love this … she puts on her ballerina clothes and dances to classical music before bed or when the mood strikes her twinkle toes. She is fascinated by moving books so this would be great. she will be attending the nutcracker this year for the first time. She is now four and at the age where she can appreciate it.
    Your tale of how Bug meets Nut is lovely.
    Hopefully she can still have the balance of both the black and the pink as she gets older.

  • Amanda D.

    I love the nutcracker music… it’s so magical! Takes me right back to my childhood. :) Thanks for the giveaway!