Nutcracker

Rating:
Summary: ignore the editorial reviews *and* the review below this
Review: Maurice Sendak's lusciously illustrated edition of E.T.A. Hoffmann's _Nutcracker_ is the most thorough and engaging edition of the book I have seen. The story was interesting to me on one level as a child and it still captures my attention as an adult. It is not a black&white, good&evil translation--the grey areas are emphasized. I *will* agree with the review preceding this in that Amazon does need to clean up its reviews of this book! Please.

Rating:
Summary: A book they will remember
Review: This book is beautiful! I received the first edition as a Christmas gift as a child. I cherished it, reading it over and over again. Sendak's illustrations and Hoffman's engaging story are still vivid in my memory. I bought two copies of this re-issue, one for my 3-year-old son and one for my 4-year-old niece. This is what all children's books should aspire to. A wonderful gift for any child.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating, for every season
Review: This book was a gift to my family when I was a child - I loved it then, and enjoy it more every time I re-read. The story is more than just the plot for a ballet. There is a lot of background, description, and insight included, and they do a lot to make the book fantastic. What elevates this work to magnificent is the artwork done by Sendak. It is lush, detailed, and beautiful. I can't say enough about the quality of this book, and urge everyone to find their own copy. This is not just a Christmas story, but a wonderful parable for every season