Tallulah's Nutcracker (Tallulah)
by Marilyn Singer (Author) Alexandra Boiger (Illustrator)
It's Christmastime, and Tallulah finally gets what she's been wishing for--a part in a real ballet, a professional production of The Nutcracker. She's only a mouse, but she works as hard as if she had been cast as the Sugar Plum Fairy.
On the night of the show, everything is perfect. But then disaster strikes! Does Tallulah have what it takes to become a real ballerina?
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Publishers Weekly
Budding ballerina Tallulah is over the moon when she learns that she will be a mouse in The Nutcracker. Even though there are 11 other mice in the production, and it's not exactly glamorous to dress as a mouse, Tallulah takes her role seriously (she even misses out on selecting a Christmas tree because of rehearsal). But a mistake on opening night leaves Tallulah in tears until a few seasoned dancers offer their own stories of on-stage foibles. As in the previous Tallulah books, Boiger's muted watercolors offer understated elegance, while Singer gingerly addresses how the wisdom of caring adults and role models can bring valuable perspective to a moment of humiliation. Ages 4-8. Illustrator's agent: Marcia Wernick, Wernick & Pratt. (Oct.)
Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.School Library Journal
K-Gr 2—In this fourth picture book about ballet-crazy Tallulah, the child is chosen to be a mouse in a professional production of The Nutcracker. Thrilled, she throws herself into rehearsals, determined to be the best mouse on stage. Opening night brings an embarrassing onstage mishap, and Tallulah is devastated until the dance master and the older girls who danced Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy tell her of their own past missteps, and Tallulah's enthusiasm is renewed. With expressive, insouciant watercolor illustrations, ballet terms like "sissone" sprinkled sparingly throughout the text, and the obligatory glitter-heavy jacket art, this is a charming holiday choice.—Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
—Kirkus
With expressive, insouciant watercolor illustrations, ballet terms like 'sissone' sprinkled sparingly throughout the text, and the obligatory glitter-heavy jacket art, this is a charming holiday choice.
—School Library Journal
As in the previous Tallulah books, Boiger's muted watercolors offer understated elegance, while Singer gingerly addresses how the wisdom of caring adults and role models can bring valuable perspective to a moment of humiliation.
—Publishers Weekly
An un-sugar-coated, but humorous, portrayal of life in the theater for young dancers—and an encouraging example for any reader.
—The Horn Book Magazine
Christmas
Ballet dancing
