Review by Booklist Review
In this fourth Ella Bella Ballerina title, the young dancer and her troupe await a Christmas party. Before partaking in the festivities, Ella Bella opens Madame Rosa's special music box, which transports a girl named Clara and her beloved wooden nutcracker to the stage. The ballerina soon finds herself in the midst of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, fighting the Mouse King and journeying to the Land of Sweets. A concluding note offers information about the original story, the ballet, and its composer. The retro illustrations, heavy on the pink pastel washes, will lock in old fans and bring in new holiday readers.--Leeper, Angela Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3-Ella Bella is back for another ballet adventure, courtesy of Madame Rosa's magical music box. The students are enchanted by their teacher's story about The Nutcracker ballet. After class, she surprises them with a party. Ella Bella goes to fetch the music box and finds Clara sleeping under the Christmas tree. Off they go to Nutcracker land, where they battle the Mouse King, help save the kingdom, and enjoy the hospitality of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Ella Bella fans will find the format familiar, and young ballet enthusiasts will enjoy Mayhew's line illustrations in pink, blue, red, and green paints and pastels. The artist depicts a multicultural class, with a token boy included, to appeal to a wide audience, and his easy-to-read adaptation of this timeless Christmas story makes it accessible to another generation of readers. End matter includes a helpful one-page history of the ballet and its composer. Even collections that have other versions of The Nutcracker may want to add this one, especially where Ella Bella has a fan base.-Angela J. Reynolds, Annapolis Valley Regional Library, Bridgetown, NS, Canada (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Sweet Ella Bella returns for her fourth appearance in a story based on a famous ballet, this time in a dreamlike interaction with the cast of The Nutcracker. As in Ella's previous dancing adventures, the story begins in Madame Rosa's ballet class in an old (possibly enchanted) theater, with the teacher introducing the music and plot of The Nutcracker. When the teacher and other students adjourn for a Christmas party, Ella creeps onto the stage of the theater, where she is magically swept into a performance of the ballet. She accompanies the characters of Clara and the Nutcracker Prince as the ballet continues, visiting the Land of Sweets and watching the Sugar Plum Fairy's dance. When the music fades, Ella returns to reality and rejoins Madame Rosa for the party, where there is one sugar mouse treat left just for Ella. The ballet's plot is skillfully summarized, and the magical transitions unfold in a believable way. Delicate watercolor-and-ink illustrations capture the exciting battle scene and create an ethereal atmosphere for the Land of Sweets with backgrounds of pink blossoms and candies. An author's note offers more information about the ballet. A lovely introduction for children preparing to see a performance of the classic holiday ballet. (Picture book. 3-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
