Ella Bella Ballerina and The Nutcracker (Ella Bella Ballerina Series) - Hardcover

Mayhew, James

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 076416581X ISBN 13: 9780764165818

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2012

Synopsis

Christmas is coming, and Madame Rosa has prepared a surprise party for her ballet class. "Ella Bella, would you fetch the music box?" asks Madame Rosa. "Then we can have some dancing at our party." As the music begins playing, little Ella Bella is magically transported into the enchanting, festive world of The Nutcracker ballet. There, she meets the beautiful Clara and her wooden Nutcracker doll. Together, Ella and Clara must fight off the evil Mouse King so they can break the evil spell that has transformed a handsome prince into the Nutcracker doll. When the spell is broken and the prince comes to life, he leads Clara and Ella to a magic forest where they dance to the music of the famous Nutcracker ballet. On the last page of this beautifully illustrated story, young readers learn about the origins of The Nutcracker ballet, its music written in 1892 by the composer Piotr Tchaikovsky for Russia's famous Imperial Ballet.

About this title

About the Author

James Mayhew was born in Blundeston, a village in Suffolk, England, and now lives with his wife and son in Letchworth Garden City, England. The author and illustrator of many popular children's books, he is also the author of Ella Bella Ballerina and The Sleeping Beauty, also available from B.E.S..

From the Inside Flap

(back cover)
Join Ella Bella Ballerina as she twirls into the enchanting, festive world of The Nutcracker ballet with its dancing snowflakes, swirling sweets, and beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy. But can Ella Bella help the Nutcracker defeat his archenemy, the wicked Mouse King?

Discover the magic of famous ballets with the charming Ella Bella Ballerina. Created by James Mayhew, this delightful character appears in three more books in this series: Ella Bella Ballerina and Cinderella, Ella Bella Ballerina and the Sleeping Beauty, and Ella Bella Ballerina and Swan Lake. All Ella Bella books are available in North America from Barron's. (front flap)
Ella Bella Ballerina and The Nutcracker
Written and Illustrated by James Mayhew
Christmas is coming, and Madame Rosa has prepared a surprise party for her ballet class. "Ella Bella, would you fetch the music box?" asks Madame Rosa. "Then we can have some dancing at our party." As the music begins playing, little Ella Bella is magically transported into the enchanting, festive world of The Nutcracker ballet. There, she meets the beautiful Clara and her wooden Nutcracker doll. Together, Ella and Clara must fight off the evil Mouse King so they can break the evil spell that has transformed a handsome prince into the Nutcracker doll. A brief passage at the back of the book recounts the life of Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and his creation of the music for this famous ballet.

(back flap)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James Mayhew was born in Blundeston, a tiny village in Suffolk, England. Today he lives with his wife and son in Letchworth Garden City, England. The author and illustrator of many popular children's books, James Mayhew claims that he began writing so that he would have something to illustrate. He is also the author of Ella Bella Ballerina and Cinderella, Ella Bella Ballerina and The Sleeping Beauty, and Ella Bella Ballerina and Swan Lake.

Reviews

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, Canadaα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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. Preschool-Grade 2. --Angela Leeper

Edition details

• Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 076416581X
• ISBN 13: 9780764165818
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32