The Nutcracker

October 22, 2007
Jeffers (Brother Eagle, Sister Sky
) raises the curtain on an energetic and child-friendly distillation of the Nutcracker
ballet (as opposed to the full-length E.T.A. Hoffman fairy tale). Here ballerinas in an array of tutus pirouette and waltz through the magical elements of that tale, familiar to many young dance students. Jeffers's soft watercolors, adopting a range of perspectives, capture both the drama of the classic story and the elegance of choreography, in a volume likely to leave youngsters longing to attend a live performance. Ages 3-8.

October 1, 2007
K-Gr 3-Children who love the traditional Christmas ballet will enjoy this romantic illustrated edition. Jeffers sets the story in the Victorian period and keeps the familiar elements, yet only the Sugar Plum Fairies literally dance in this version. As a story, the cursory text is rather ho-hum, but the illustrations communicate the beauty and the emotional quality of the ballet."Virginia Walter, University of California, Los Angeles"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2007
In her authors note, Jeffers rightly points out thatmanyNutcrackerstorybooksomit the dancingthe very element that draws most children to the tale in the first place. In contrast, Jeffers lush watercolors closely match what children might see on the stage, moving through the acts and scenesto provide a gracefulpictorial synopsis. Costumed and in pointe shoes, dancers appear throughout, with most of the named roles, such as Mother Ginger and her Polichinelles, specifically identified in the brief, smoothly written text. Jeffers corps de ballet could have been more diverse, and readers may have questions about the ending, which wont matchmost performances.Even so, this will wholly satisfy families wanting to prepare for annual Nutcracker rituals, and the oversize dimensions and glitter-dusted jacket lend the book a suitable special-occasion feel.Children curious about the bizarre, lengthy E. T. A. Hoffman story, upon which the ballet is loosely based, canturn to Maurice Sendaks unabridged 1984 version; for most purposes, though, thistreatment will earn curtain calls galore.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2008
Jeffers's romantic, detail-rich illustrations are based on the Balanchine ballet, all the way down to the costumes, sets, and even some staging. Her calm, introspective tone brings out the characters' emotional struggles. This is a satisfying extension for an audience already under the spell of the ballet.

(Copyright 2008 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)