The Nutcracker Comes to America

Reviewed by: Jeri Fitzpatrick - GNGMS, Gray, Central Maine Library District

Review Date: December 14, 2015

Review

Illustrations look like water color and ink. The story tells how the traditional Nutcracker was started by three brothers from a small town in Utah. "Well, our story kicks off... in the early 1900s- and it's three brothers doing the kicking..." The story is written almost like a conversation in places. The brothers William, Lew, and Harold had to dance at the family's dance studio. William changed his name to sound Russian, fell in love with ballet, and Vaudeville. He choreographed many of the dances.

I used it coupled with Tchaikovsky with my sixth grade social studies class. We are working on the Common Core Standard of comparing North American and South American cultures. I started by playing a piece used in the Nutcracker. Many knew the tune, no one knew who it was by. Next, I asked them what the knew about the Nutcracker. Not very much including some of my students who are performing in it.

Overall Book Score: good