The Nutcracker 

Retold by Mark A. Taylor

This is a wonderful, imaginative and very creative picturebook. The settings, the plot, and the climax of the Nutcracker soldier's fight is interesting and captivates the attention. The little girl finds the soldier and the mice fighting, fantasy. She is taken away to the castle and eventually rescued. This multicultural story is fascinating and it captivates my daughters attention. It is well thought out and very creative story of love, trust, and friendship.The Nutcracker, written by E.T.A. Hoffmann in 1816, has fascinated and inspired artists, composers and audiences for nearly two hundred years.

Motivational Activities:

1. We will watch The Nutcracker movie and dance to it's music. 

2. Retell the story with our very own picturebook that we created.

3. We will discover Christmas over the world and make story-time out of it.

4. We put together another picturebook to learn of other people cultures.

Classroom Questions:

1. Where did the Nutcracker come from in the story. 

2. How do your family celebrate Christmas?

3. If you don't celebrate Christmas, what do you celebrate?

References:

Galda, L., Cullinan, B. E., & Sipe, L. R. (2010). Literature and the Child 7edition. Belmont: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Taylor, M. A. (1995). The Nutcracker. Ashland: Landoll, Inc.