Tallulah's Nutcracker: A Christmas Holiday Book for Kids

by Marilyn Singer, Alexandra Boiger (Illustrator)

Overview

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?

A well-told story, gorgeous illustrations, and a beloved character conspire to make a positively magical Christmas book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780547845579
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	10/01/2013
Series:	Tallulah Series
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	227,273
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD600L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Marilyn Singer is the author of more than one hundred books for children, including the Tallulah books. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, and Washington, Connecticut. Visit her online at marilynsinger.net.

Alexandra Boiger grew up in Munich, Germany. She has illustrated many picture and chapter books, including five popular books about ballerina Tallulah and She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton. She lives in Northern California. Visit her online at alexandraboiger.com and on Instagram @Alexandra_Boiger.

Editorial Reviews

09/16/2013
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.)

Publishers Weekly

"An un-sugar-coated, but humorous, portrayal of life in the theater for young dancers—and an encouraging example for any reader."
— Horn Book Magazine

"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

"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

"Tallulah shines as a real little dancer with her own distinct style, learning step by step."
— Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

10/01/2013
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

School Library Journal

2013-09-01
In the fourth entry in the popular series about budding ballerina Tallulah, she wins a part as a mouse in a professional production of The Nutcracker, but the performance doesn't turn out as she imagines. Tallulah is thrilled when she begins rehearsals with a professional ballet company for their holiday production. She and the other mice are taught by the ballet master, and Tallulah tries hard to be the most enthusiastic mouse in the cast. While spunky Tallulah is full of drive and passion for ballet, she also develops a bit of an attitude and begins to brag to her dance-class friends and brother. On opening night, Tallulah steps on the tail of another mouse, causing a chain accident of fallen mice and soldiers. She is comforted backstage by the ballet master and the dancers playing Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy, who share their own stories of performance mishaps. The story unfolds with skillful pacing and a delicate balance between Tallulah's free-wheeling thoughts (indicated in a different typeface) and the dramatic tension of the ballet rehearsals and performance. Boiger's whimsical watercolors are beautifully composed, creating captivating scenes of dance class, the backstage area and the performance. Tallulah shines as a real little dancer with her own distinct style, learning step by step. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews