The Nutcracker

by Niroot Puttapipat, E.T.A. Hoffmann

A beautifully illustrated edition of the much-loved Christmas story with a spectacular pop-up finale, from Niroot Puttapipat, illustrator of The Night Before Christmas and Jingle Bells. The Nutcracker story is a much-loved part of Christmas celebrations around the world, and this beautiful edition captures the excitement of Christmas Eve and the magic of Marius Petipa’s classic ballet. Exquisitely illustrated by Niroot Puttapipat, this charming retelling follows Clara’s magical journey with the Nutcracker Prince and ends with a stunning pop-up of the Land of Sweets! The perfect book to share at Christmas.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Holiday, Childrens, Fiction

Hardcover

First published October 1, 2015

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a fan of Niroot’s artwork. He uses beautiful colors, very rich and deep. The people are all black like a shadow and other objects like the clock are blocked out black. It’s like seeing shadows of important things projected on a scene. I don’t know why that works, but it works well. There are plenty of details in this one.

I adore the Nutcracker. It takes me back to my years playing in the orchestra pit for the ballet. Those are some of my best memories. I loved playing that score. I was the piccolo player and toward the end there is this run the piccolo has that is high and the line is the glory of the ballet. I loved playing that part. I could play in tune which is a must and I had a sweet sound. Anyway, I’m nostalgic.

The adaptation of the book is nice and reads well. There is a beautiful pop-up on the last page when Clara comes to the castle. It’s wonderful.

The nephew has seen the Nutcracker with us and he thinks it’s rather boring after the battle with the rats is over. He enjoyed the pop-up and the rat battle and the rest he was putting his feet on the wall and not paying attention. He gave it 3 stars.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expatriate Thai artist Niroot Puttapipat, who studied and currently lives in the UK, takes the famous fairy-tale/ballet The Nutcracker as the story for this beautiful new holiday picture-book, creating a gorgeous visual treat for the reader. At a short twelve pages, the text here, adapted by Kate Davies from the original story by E.T.A. Hoffman, as well as the ballet based upon it, is an abridged version of the original tale of Clara and her magical Christmas Eve adventure with the Nutcracker Prince. Each two-page spread features text along one side, and a beautiful and colorful silhouette illustration spread across both pages. The final spread features a lovely pop-up scene, in which Clara attends the ball, and watches the various dancers.

I greatly enjoyed this retelling of the famous Christmas story, which I have seen performed many times by The New York City Ballet. The abbreviated story will work well for younger children who might not yet have the attention span for the full text, and the artwork will keep readers both young and old enthralled. The silhouette aspect of Puttapipat's illustrations put me in mind of the work of Jan Pieńkowski, while the use of color and gold reminded me of Jane Ray, both of which comparisons are high praise indeed, given my fondness for Pieńkowski and Ray's books! The final pop-up scene is simply delightful, delicate and beautiful, conveying the magic of the ball that Clara attends in the Land of Sweets. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-book versions of The Nutcracker!

[Dawn Livingston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I didn't read this book other than a few words here and there. I was so mesmerized/stunned by the beauty of the illustrations I didn't notice much else. This book is a must have just for the illustrations. They're so beautiful they could be framed and hung on your wall.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was expected this version of the Nutcracker to be more like the ballet, which I am more familiar with. But this version is quite different. This book is based on the original ballet produced by Marius Petipa. I wasn't familiar with this version when I picked up the book. But the book is beautifully put together. While the text is longer than most picture books, or at least it feels that way because the book has fewer pages than most picture books (to make room for the pop-up at the end). The shadow illustrations are gorgeous and highly detailed. In this version, Clara helps save the nutcracker prince from the Mouse King and as a reward, he takes her to his home, the Land of Sweets where she dances away the night. When she returns home she meets Dr. Drosselmeyer's nephew who is "handsome enough to be a prince." For those interested in a version of the story closer to the original, I can highly recommend this one.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: It was Christmas Eve, and Clara and her little brother, Fritz, were bursting with excitement.

Premise/plot: A picture book retelling of The Nutcracker. This one is for older readers primarily for two reasons. First, it is text-heavy. Second, it features an intricate pop-up. I don't think it would hold the attention of preschoolers anyway, even without the pop up!

My thoughts: I liked this one. I found the illustrations to be striking. Not bright and bold. Not warm and cozy. But strikingly atmospheric. (A lot more black than what you might be expecting.) They are very beautiful, and invite you into the story.

The story itself is what you'd expect from a retelling of the Nutcracker.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1892, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote his famous score The Nutcracker for a two act ballet that was choreographed by Marius Petipa and performed in St. Petersburg on December 18, 1892. This beautifully illustrated version of The Nutcracker is based on the sets of that first ballet. The illustrations are done in a palette of oranges, yellows and blues, with touches of red and green for the Christmas trees. Many of the figures are done in silhouette with only touches of color, adding much to that dreamy atmosphere that permeates this tale. At the end of the book, there is an stunningly ethereal pop-up of the ball in the Land of Sweets. The book may seem a little text heavy at first, but the story is told so clearly and simply here that I think it shouldn't be a problem for most young readers. The tale of The Nutcracker all begins when Clara's Christmas Eve gift from her godfather Dr. Drosselmeyer is broken by her jealous younger brother, and her godfather promises that it will be good as new in the morning. That night, Clara dreams about helping the Nutcracker Prince defeat the Mouse King in a fight. Afterwards, the Prince takes her to the Land of Sweets. where he lives and Clara meet the Sugar Plum Fairy, who takes them to a ball where they dance until morning. In the morning, when she wakes up, Clara has a magical surprise waiting for her. A beautiful edition and a must read for anyone who may be going to see the ballet this Christmas.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The original Nutcracker story is skillfully retold in this picture book, but it's the illustrations that will draw readers to this version. Puttapipat sets black cut-paper silhouette figures against jewel-toned scenes, creating a sense the formal ballet and the intimate, magical story. The longer text makes this more suited for older children. The climax, as Clara and her prince enter the Sugar Plum Fairy's castle, reveals itself in a majestic pop-up spread.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Puttapipat, Niroot (illustrator) The Nutcracker. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick, 2016. 978-0763681258 $20.

Puttapitat turns the ballet into a lush landscape with silhouetted figures and a pop-up surprise.
As an adult, I think this is one of my favorite versions of the ballet. Were I a child, I think I would want something less lush.

GIFT – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...

[Ribbon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous art and beautiful prose. It mostly skips past the second half of the ballet, instead having a single pop-up page with imagery from that section. The pop-up is so intricate, most kids would destroy it just looking at it. Keep this book to grown ups and older kids.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a gift edition just published in the U.S. Inspired by Marius Petipa’s sets for the original production of the ballet. It has a surprise pop-up finale. For ballet lovers, and for those who attend The Nutcracker every year, it's a wonderful book.

[MaryBrigid Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I realised the other day, that although I know the story of the Nutcracker, I've never actually read it, so thought since I have this beautiful popup version of it, I would take a quick read of it. Now I have to go get another version of it, so I can read the whole of this enchanting story.

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and a final-page pop-up that will take your breath away!

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holy moly, what lovely illustrations! I spent some quality time admiring the pop-up at the end. I thought the book was a little text-heavy but really, the pictures are just divine.

[Nathalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story and illustrations. And the last page with the pop-up is mesmerizing.

[Victoria Hellgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful edition! The illustrations and the pop-up finale are truly gorgeous.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be still, my heart. Blueberry rivers, spun-sugar dresses, silhouettes and shadows and fortitude...it was like the "Let Me Be Your Wings" sequence in the 90s animated Thumbelina film. Lovely, though I wish the brother, Fritz, got a bit of comeuppance. I was dazzled!

[BiblioBeruthiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice pop-out section toward the end.

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated!

[Alice Ball · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely edition with a dazzling cut-out pop up at the end.

[Inger L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations!!

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for the pop-up surprise. Overall a cute enjoyable version of the nutcracker.
Recommended? Sure
Buy/Borrow? borrow

[Stephanie Miceli · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time reading this beautiful fairy tale Christmas classic and I absolutely adored it.

[Sarah]

Own