passionately sharing, discussing and admiring children's picture books
Day 16 brings another new book this year that is a delightful reinvention of The Nutcracker. Set in Sugar Hill in New York City during the Harlem Renaissance, this familiar, yet completely new story is an amazing tribute to the classic while giving unique honor to the power of jazz on the American soul. Add this one to your shelves immediately: The Nutcracker in Harlem by T. E. McMorrow, illustrated by James Ransome, 2017.
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Day 2 of the picture book countdown to Christmas includes this book which is probably cheating to be called a picture book. At 102 pages, this is much more of a storybook, chapter book, or…? But the Nutcracker story is a classic Christmas tale and this edition by Maurice Sendak is a delightfully unique version of the famous story. Here’s E. T. A. Hoffmann’s Nutcracker, translated by Ralph Manheim, with pictures by Maurice Sendak, 1984.
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Our fourth book of the 25 Days of Christmas Books is a classic and beloved story, The Nutcracker. Some brief research revealed that this story has a long history and various adaptations, so I’m going to highlight my simple Golden Book copy and encourage the use of whatever version you’ve come to own and love. My book is from 1991 and was written by Rita Balducci and illustrated by Barbara Lanza.
This is the story of a little German girl named Clara who receives a nutcracker from her magical godfather at a party, turning her evening into a frightful and beautiful night of fighting large rodents and celebratory dancing.
Continue reading “25 Days – Book 4: The Nutcracker”
Three Books a Night 