The Nutcracker Ballet by Vladimir Vagin Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Nutcracker Ballet
Book Review: A Perfect Introduction To The Nutcracker
Summary: 5 Stars
In anticipation of taking my 3 ½ year old to see The Nutcracker for the very first time, I purchased Vladimir Vagin's THE NUTCRACKER BALLET (which was highly recommended by a friend), so that I could familiarize my daughter with the story. She already recognizes most of the music from The Nutcracker Suite (and can tell you the names of the different pieces!), but I also wanted her to understand the basic story. THE NUTCRACKER BALLET is not only an excellent retelling of the story told in the ballet; it is also quite beautiful to look at.
The illustrations in THE NUTCRACKER BALLET are exquisite. They are vivid, colorful, detailed, and drawn from the perspective of a young child. My wee one was drawn to these lovely images; she commented on each one and asked intelligent questions. When we got to the Land of Sweets, she was utterly enchanted. She loved the dancers' clothes, Clara's gown, and of course the Sugar Plum Fairy. The story in THE NUTCRACKER BALLET is simply told. My child was able to follow along easily and understood the story. In fact, even I learned a thing or two about The Nutcracker, and I have seen the ballet countless times!
THE NUTCRACKER BALLET really helped my daughter understand and enjoy The Nutcracker on stage. She watched intently, her eyes bright and shining. She loved the music, the dancing, and the story. We had a marvelous time. For anyone planning to attend a performance of The Nutcracker, I highly recommend this book. It will truly add to your child's delight of the event.
Book Review: A little girls dream
Summary: 5 Stars
Purchased for my 4 year old daughter and it was perfect! She loves books, is in her first year of ballet and is mesmerized by the "magic"of the Christmas season. This book goes right along with the actual ballet so it was a good prep tool. I took my daughter to the ballet a few weeks after receiving the storybook and it was a perfect match! Truly a Christmas classic that every little girl would enjoy.Book Review: A story told with clarity and illustrated with detail
Summary: 5 Stars
The Nutcracker Ballet--beloved by children, supported by adults, an opportunity for young ballet students to dance and traipse the boards. Ah, the Nutcracker!
Do you remember your first time to see this wonderland of ballet? Were you as confused as I was? Before ever taking a child to this ballet, please introduce her or him to the story. "The Nutcracker Ballet" by Vladimir Vagin is a story told with clarity and illustrated with detail. It's a great place to start.
On the two pages following the title page is a row of houses, one of which is the setting for the party. Since the time period is the late 1800's, when Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky composed the music for the story by E.T.A. Hoffman, attention to period detail is important.
The top half of the first page of the story shows children peeking through the keyhole (remember those?) at the adult party inside. On the wall is a sconce of glowing, lighted candles. Parquet floors are shown in the M design. In the bottom half is the script wrapped in gold bars and red ribbons and bedecked with holly. A beaded ribbon is tied around a single walnut sitting atop the I of It in the narrative.
The next page shows a decorated tree, including little lighted candles as was once popular before electric lights. The detail is truly incredible.
What is most helpful, however, is the clarity of the story. This is a book in which text and illustration work together to tell a magical story: a battle between good and evil with Clara, the girl, striking the winning blow.
The VERY BEST aspect of this version is the perspective. The child/viewer is right there on the floor at eye level with the soldiers and mice, almost a part of the battle scene. It's a little scary, but not if that child is sitting next to you or in your lap.
The page that shows the prince's Castle Land is truly fantastic: the Land of Sweets that looks like a confectioner's greatest fantasy. Pink trees with peppermint in various colors, topiary trees of more fantasia shapes and colors, gingerbread houses and spires. Nothing is simple or plain.
The Sugarplum Fairy is most striking of all. Instead of a confection color, she is wearing a black dress highlighted by plum blossoms, leaves, and ripe plums. Her attendants are more like angels from medieval paintings. It is all so delightful.
And at the end, when Clara awakes from her dream and has had her adventure, she realizes that "magic is the best present of all." Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
Now your child can go to the ballet and understand the story. I did.
Book Review: Barb from exas
Summary: 4 Stars
This book was a gift to two young grandaughters who had recently seen The Nutcracker Ballet on stage, for the first time. The book tells the story beautifully and is a wondeful keepsake. The girls love it!Book Review: Beautiful words and pictures
Summary: 5 Stars
What I like best about this book is the language. It's sophisticated and yet completely accessible even when my daughter was only 4. It's a fantastic story, and this version really brings that out.