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Summary
Summary
It's Christmastime, and Tallulah finally gets what she's been wishing for--a part in a real ballet, a professional production of The Nutcracker. She's only a mouse, but she works as hard as if she had been cast as the Sugar Plum Fairy.
On the night of the show, everything is perfect. But then disaster strikes! Does Tallulah have what it takes to become a real ballerina?
A well-told story, gorgeous illustrations, and a beloved character conspire to make a positively magical Christmas book.
Author Notes
Marilyn Singer was born in the Bronx, New York, on October 3, 1948, and lived most of her early life in North Massapequa on Long Island. She attended Queens College, City University of New York as an English major and education student, and for her junior year, attended Reading University, in England. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from Queens and a MA in Communications from New York University. Marilyn Singer had been teaching English in New York City high schools for several years when she began writing in 1974. Initially, she wrote film notes, catalogues, teacher's guides and filmstrips. She also began looking into magazine writing. Her article proposals were not very successful, but she did manage to have some of her poetry published. Then one day she penned a story featuring talking insects she'd made up when she was eight. Encouraged by the responses she got, she wrote more stories and in 1976 her first book, The Dog Who Insisted He Wasn't, was published.
Since then, Marilyn has published more than 50 books for children and young adults. In addition to a rich collection of fiction picture books, Singer has also produced a wide variety of nonfiction works for young readers as well as several poetry volumes in picture book format. Additionally, Singer has edited volumes of short stories for young adult readers, including Stay True: Short Stories for Strong Girls and I Believe in Water: Twelve Brushes with Religion.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-In this fourth picture book about ballet-crazy Tallulah, the child is chosen to be a mouse in a professional production of The Nutcracker. Thrilled, she throws herself into rehearsals, determined to be the best mouse on stage. Opening night brings an embarrassing onstage mishap, and Tallulah is devastated until the dance master and the older girls who danced Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy tell her of their own past missteps, and Tallulah's enthusiasm is renewed. With expressive, insouciant watercolor illustrations, ballet terms like "sissone" sprinkled sparingly throughout the text, and the obligatory glitter-heavy jacket art, this is a charming holiday choice.-Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Budding ballerina Tallulah is over the moon when she learns that she will be a mouse in The Nutcracker. Even though there are 11 other mice in the production, and it's not exactly glamorous to dress as a mouse, Tallulah takes her role seriously (she even misses out on selecting a Christmas tree because of rehearsal). But a mistake on opening night leaves Tallulah in tears until a few seasoned dancers offer their own stories of on-stage foibles. As in the previous Tallulah books, Boiger's muted watercolors offer understated elegance, while Singer gingerly addresses how the wisdom of caring adults and role models can bring valuable perspective to a moment of humiliation. Ages 4-8. Illustrator's agent: Marcia Wernick, Wernick & Pratt. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Dancing in The Nutcracker is not what Tallulah expected: rehearsals are tiring (and a bit boring); she misses out on pre-Christmas activities; and her mouse costume is not at all elegant. Worst of all, on the big night, a stage frightstricken Tallulah inadvertently causes a pile-up of mice and toy soldiers. Backstage, her teacher, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Clara regale her with their own performance mistakes and remind her of what being a dancer is all about. Gentle text and warm watercolor and gouache (mixed with egg yolk) illustrations together offer an un-sugar-coated, but humorous, portrayal of life in the theater for young dancersand an encouraging example for any reader. katie bircher (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
In the fourth entry in the popular series about budding ballerina Tallulah, she wins a part as a mouse in a professional production of The Nutcracker, but the performance doesn't turn out as she imagines. Tallulah is thrilled when she begins rehearsals with a professional ballet company for their holiday production. She and the other mice are taught by the ballet master, and Tallulah tries hard to be the most enthusiastic mouse in the cast. While spunky Tallulah is full of drive and passion for ballet, she also develops a bit of an attitude and begins to brag to her dance-class friends and brother. On opening night, Tallulah steps on the tail of another mouse, causing a chain accident of fallen mice and soldiers. She is comforted backstage by the ballet master and the dancers playing Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy, who share their own stories of performance mishaps. The story unfolds with skillful pacing and a delicate balance between Tallulah's free-wheeling thoughts (indicated in a different typeface) and the dramatic tension of the ballet rehearsals and performance. Boiger's whimsical watercolors are beautifully composed, creating captivating scenes of dance class, the backstage area and the performance. Tallulah shines as a real little dancer with her own distinct style, learning step by step. (Picture book. 4-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Chosen to dance as one of the mice in a professional production of The Nutcracker, Tallulah is walking on air and dreaming of glory. Her debut brings her down to earth, though, after she steps on another mouse's tail and causes a pileup of mice and soldiers. Poetic justice has its moment, but the story doesn't end there. It takes an unexpected turn after the performance in a tender, yet amusing backstage scene in which experienced dancers reminisce about their own embarrassing moments onstage. Boiger creates a vivid sense of music and movement in the graceful watercolor illustrations. A fresh addition to the Tallulah series.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist