The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker

Each December, generations of children delight in the ballet version of the quintessential Christmas story The Nutcracker. But few have had the opportunity to revel in the richly detailed original tale. Now, in this glorious new edition, acclaimed children's book author and editor Janet Schulman returns to the source'E.T.A. Hoffmann's “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice.” Here we meet Marie, her Nutcracker, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and all the other delightful characters, and we discover the answers to questions left unanswered by the ballet, like why the Nutcracker and the King of Mice were enemies. Artist Renée Graef adds her own enchantment with stunning, jewellike paintings that bring the story thrillingly to life. As an added bonus, this must-have Christmas gift also includes a free audio CD with Tchaikovsky's inimitable musical score and a reading of the complete story by actress Claire Bloom. Many, many children know and love the Nutcracker story. Every year, in every city, countless ballet troupes, accompanied by Tchaikovsky's thrilling music, perform this Christmas classic about a girl who helps a wooden nutcracker man defeat a nasty army of mice and winds up in the magical dreamworld of the Land of Toys. But the ballet leaves a few questions unanswered. How did the Nutcracker and the King of Mice become such mortal enemies? And how did the Nutcracker turn into a handsome prince? Acclaimed children's author and editor Janet Schulman ( The 20th Century Children's Book Treasury ) adapts E.T.A Hoffman's 1816 original, faintly sinister, tale and helps answer these questions. The lines between good and evil are drawn less sharply than in the familiar ballet, and more attention is paid to all that happens before the ultimate battle between the toys and the mice. The King of Mice, by the way, is a nightmare-inducing seven-headed fiend. Renée Graef's warm, old-fashioned artwork softens the scarier aspects of this exciting edition of The Nutcracker , which includes a full-length CD featuring Tchaikovsky's music and a narration of the story by celebrated actress Claire Bloom. Schulman's version is bound to become a happy holiday tradition for the entire family. (Ages 5 and older) -- Emilie Coulter PreSchool-Grade 4-This adaptation of the popular story belongs on the shelf next to the glorious version illustrated by Maurice Sendak (Crown, 1991). Schulman tells the complete story, and stays very close to Hoffmann's original text. Since the book is accompanied by a CD, children can either read along or listen to the recording independently. It features British actress Claire Bloom's dramatic reading and Tchaikovsky's familiar music. Graef's beautiful Victorian-era illustrations appear on every page, either as a framed full-page painting or a vignette. Readers and listeners will love this version of The Nutcracker-the music and story meld together perfectly to present a magnificent multisensory experience.-L.F. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. Shulman's adaptation of E. T. A Hoffman's 1816 story, "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," is packaged with a CD featuring Claire Bloom's narration and Tchaikovsky's famous music. Unlike the Nutcracker ballet, which takes place largely after the battle between the Nutcracker Prince and the Mouse King, the original story explores the roots of the enmity between the prince and the king. Godpapa Drosselmeier explains to Marie, the story's protagonist, that her Nutcracker is really his nephew, who was cursed by the Queen of the Mice. The Mouse King is a creepy fellow with seven heads, and he extorts Christmas treats from Marie every night until the Nutcracker finally battles him. On its own, the story is long and doesn't hang together well, but it will add background and context when used as an extension of the ballet. Graef's illustrations are floridly old-fashioned, with careful attention to period detail. Susan Dove Lempke “Will keep young readers on their toes.” - Publishers Weekly Each December, generations of children delight in the ballet version of the quintessential Christmas story The Nutcracker. But few have had the opportunity to revel in the richly detailed original tale. Now, in this glorious new edition, acclaimed children's book author and editor Janet Schulman returns to the source'E.T.A. Hoffmann's “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice.” Here we meet Marie, her Nutcracker, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and all the other delightful characters, and we discover the answers to questions left unanswered by the ballet, like why the Nutcracker and the King of Mice were enemies. Artist Renée Graef adds her own enchantment with stunning, jewellike paintings that bring the story thrillingly to life. As an added bonus, this must-have Christmas gift also includes a free audio CD with Tchaikovsky's inimitable musical score and a reading of the complete story by actress Claire Bloom. Janet Schulman has worked in children's book publishing for nearly forty ye