READ THIS: The Nutcracker Ballet: A Book, Theater, and Paper Doll Fold-Out Play Set By Mara Conlon · Illustrated by Jo Gershman
Aspiring young dancers and fans of the ballet have a creative new way to make a timeless classic their own with The Nutcracker Ballet: A Book, Theater, and Paper Doll Fold-Out Play Set from Peter Pauper Press. It’s Christmas Eve and Clara is about to have a magical night—filled with scrumptious sweets, majestic music, and the most beautiful dancing she’s ever seen! Open the covers and a magical world unfolds: three beautiful stages with more than 40 paper doll characters.
A companion 32-page picture book allows readers to follow the tale as they act it out with Clara, godfather Drosselmeyer, the Nutcracker, the Mouse King, the Prince, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and 35 more paper dolls. The characters dance their way through three different stages—Clara’s Living Room, the Enchanted Forest, and the Land of Sweets. When the performance is done, readers simply place storybook and dolls in the provided storage envelope for safekeeping and close the play set stages.
Based on the 1816 story by Romantic writer E. T. A. Hoffman and enlivened by Tchaikovsky’s music, the Nutcracker ballet has been a beloved holiday tradition for decades. The Peter Pauper Press play set edition was adapted by children’s editor and author Mara Conlon, and illustrated by fine artist Jo Gershman.
Our Children's Whom You Know Panel read this book and here is what the parents of the Petite Peachy group had to say:
A little Ballerina’s Fantasy Fulfilled: When I first heard I was having a daughter, I remember daydreaming of taking Piper someday to her first ballet class. Little white tights and a pink leotard. Ballet was first introduced to me at The Chapin School, where ballet was part of their weekly curriculum starting in Kindergarten. It taught me grace, poise and confidence even at a early age. Ballet should be a part of every little girl’s life and now it can. “The Nutcracker Ballet: A Book, Theater and Paper Doll Fold-Out Play Set is an extraordinary gift for girls of all ages. The gift set is a great introduction or a way to feed into their passion for ballet. The book is beautifully bound and organized. Enclosed in its hard bound cover is a soft cover Nutcracker book, an envelope filled with over 40 punch-out paper dolls so that you can keep in good shape and three pop-out stages where you make the magic happen. On those three pop out stages, you can move all of the characters (in the form of paper dolls) from the story including Clara, Sugar Plum Fairies, the Nutcracker and more glide across the stage in whimsical fashion. An elegant and innovative gift to give or receive this holiday season!
THE NUTCRACKER BALLET, A Book, Theater, and Paper Doll Fold-Out Play Set, is a beautifully crafted toy. It introduces children to the Nutcracker Ballet and offers role play during or beyond the reading of the story. With three “sets” and over 40 paper dolls, young readers and even pre-readers can act out the story and create their own scenes. This play set is a throw-back to a time when toys didn’t beep, vibrate, and keep score. It allows children the chance for their imaginations to take center stage. The best part is that it provides a wonderful opportunity for parents and kids to interact and share in the magic. Even if you’ve never seen the ballet, never had any interest in the ballet, this play set is worth a look.
The Nutcracker Ballet. Story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, adapted by Mara Conlon. Illustrated by Ho Gershman. Peter Pauper Press (2007), $14.99.
Few stage performances have become synonymous with Christmas like the Nutcracker. If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a child age 4 or older, check out The Nutcracker Ballet by Peter Pauper Press. This delightful book is more than just a story—it is an exciting playset including 3 pop-out stage sets and more than forty paper dolls—all the Nutcracker characters—in addition to a beautifully illustrated adaptation of the Nutcracker story (32 pp., softcover). The storybook fits neatly into a pocket inside the sturdy hardcover book, which contains the pop-out stage sets and a durable envelope to hold all of the colorful figurines. My daughter absolutely loved this set: she had the story almost entirely memorized the day after we got it. She also finds this book enjoyable because it is more than just a great story—it’s an entire interactive playset. Another feature I like is this: the kit comes with a number of extra stands for the paper dolls in case some get lost or destroyed. Here, the designers at Peter Pauper Press have not only designed a quality product, they have designed a product with children in mind. If you’re looking for a fun way to introduce a young loved-one to the Nutcracker or are looking for a delightful Christmas gift sure to excite, check out The Nutcracker Ballet: A Book, Theater and Paper Doll Fold-Out Playset by Peter Pauper Press.
Whom You Know highly recommends The Nutcracker Ballet! It should be on your shopping list this Black Friday for all of the little ones on your holiday list.
Ages 6 and up
Includes 32-page book, 41 punch-out paper dolls, 3 fold-out stages, storage envelope
Elastic band closure also serves to hold book stage sets open
9-3/4 inches wide by 10-1/4 inches high
$14.99 U.S., $19.95 Canada · ISBN 978-1-59359-885-3, Product Code 8853
About Peter Pauper Press, Inc.
Founded in 1928, Peter Pauper Press, Inc., is set to begin its eighth decade as a leading publisher of fine gift books, humor books, travel guides, designer journals, quality stationery, holiday cards, and innovative children’s activity books. Peter Pauper Press publishes approximately 100 books and ancillary products per year.
Peter Pauper Press, Inc.
Fine gifts since 1928
202 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10601
Telephone: 914-681-0144 • Fax: 914-681-0389 • http://www.peterpauper.com/
THE NUTCRACKER BALLET, A Book, Theater, and Paper Doll Fold-Out Play Set, is a beautifully crafted toy. It introduces children to the Nutcracker Ballet and offers role play during or beyond the reading of the story. With three “sets” and over 40 paper dolls, young readers and even pre-readers can act out the story and create their own scenes. This play set is a throw-back to a time when toys didn’t beep, vibrate, and keep score. It allows children the chance for their imaginations to take center stage. The best part is that it provides a wonderful opportunity for parents and kids to interact and share in the magic. Even if you’ve never seen the ballet, never had any interest in the ballet, this play set is worth a look.
The Nutcracker Ballet. Story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, adapted by Mara Conlon. Illustrated by Ho Gershman. Peter Pauper Press (2007), $14.99.
Few stage performances have become synonymous with Christmas like the Nutcracker. If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a child age 4 or older, check out The Nutcracker Ballet by Peter Pauper Press. This delightful book is more than just a story—it is an exciting playset including 3 pop-out stage sets and more than forty paper dolls—all the Nutcracker characters—in addition to a beautifully illustrated adaptation of the Nutcracker story (32 pp., softcover). The storybook fits neatly into a pocket inside the sturdy hardcover book, which contains the pop-out stage sets and a durable envelope to hold all of the colorful figurines. My daughter absolutely loved this set: she had the story almost entirely memorized the day after we got it. She also finds this book enjoyable because it is more than just a great story—it’s an entire interactive playset. Another feature I like is this: the kit comes with a number of extra stands for the paper dolls in case some get lost or destroyed. Here, the designers at Peter Pauper Press have not only designed a quality product, they have designed a product with children in mind. If you’re looking for a fun way to introduce a young loved-one to the Nutcracker or are looking for a delightful Christmas gift sure to excite, check out The Nutcracker Ballet: A Book, Theater and Paper Doll Fold-Out Playset by Peter Pauper Press.
Whom You Know highly recommends The Nutcracker Ballet! It should be on your shopping list this Black Friday for all of the little ones on your holiday list.
Ages 6 and up
Includes 32-page book, 41 punch-out paper dolls, 3 fold-out stages, storage envelope
Elastic band closure also serves to hold book stage sets open
9-3/4 inches wide by 10-1/4 inches high
$14.99 U.S., $19.95 Canada · ISBN 978-1-59359-885-3, Product Code 8853
About Peter Pauper Press, Inc.
Founded in 1928, Peter Pauper Press, Inc., is set to begin its eighth decade as a leading publisher of fine gift books, humor books, travel guides, designer journals, quality stationery, holiday cards, and innovative children’s activity books. Peter Pauper Press publishes approximately 100 books and ancillary products per year.
Peter Pauper Press, Inc.
Fine gifts since 1928
202 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10601
Telephone: 914-681-0144 • Fax: 914-681-0389 • http://www.peterpauper.com/
