Tallulah’s Nutcracker

It’s Christmastime and Tallulah finally gets what she’s been wishing for—a part in 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? 

Tallulah is a charming character who wants to shine. When she finds out that she will be one of eleven mice in The Nutcracker, “Tallulah hoped that she would stand out.” When the night of the performance arrives, Tallulah looks at the older dancers and dreams of one day being like them. However, Tallulah was just a little bit scared when she first got on stage. She began to dance and “then all of a sudden she stepped on a tall mouse’s tail. . . Tallulah tried to get up, but another mouse tripped over her, followed by two toy soldiers. They all lay in a stunned heap in the middle of the stage.” After the performance, Tallulah hides because she wanted to be the best mouse but instead she “was the total worst.”  

Even though Tallulah hides, the teenage dancers and the dance master find her after the show. Instead of being upset and criticizing Tallulah for making a mistake, they encourage her. The dance master, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Clara all tell their own stories of doing something embarrassing. Their encouraging words are heartwarming, and they help Tallulah learn that “in ballet, embarrassing things happen all the time, but a REAL dancer keeps right on dancing.”  

The story’s winter theme is illustrated in soft blues, while Tallulah’s clothing has pops of red. The beautiful pictures include snowy landscapes, Tallulah’s dance class, and several scenes from The Nutcracker. The children in Tallulah’s dance class are diverse and include several boys, while the illustrations of Tallulah as a mouse are adorably cute. To help readers distinguish the narration from Tallulah’s thoughts, her thoughts are written in large, bold letters. Since each page has two to seven sentences, parents will need to read the story to their children.  

If you’re ready for some Christmas cheer, Tallulah’s Nutcracker is a wonderful picture book that has enchanting pictures and teaches that while everyone makes mistakes, what’s important is that you don’t let that stop you from reaching for your dreams. Whether you’ve read all of the Tallulah books or this is your first, Tallulah’s Nutcracker is sure to enchant. Younger readers interested in dance will enjoy seeing Tallulah’s ballet lessons. However, most readers will relate to Tallulah’s embarrassment and will feel joy when Tallulah realizes, “I’m not the best mouse or a star, but I am a real dancer – at least, I’m going to be.”   

Sexual Content  

• None

Violence  

• None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

• None 

Language  

• None 

Supernatural 

• None 

Spiritual Content  

• None