Bookmarked: Dr. Richard Sagar

Since 1986, Ballet Etudes has brightened the holiday season for thousands through its staging of “The Nutcracker.” However, faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, the company made the difficult decision to cancel the ballet for 2020. To keep the beloved tradition alive, Dr. Sagar has a reading suggestion.

RECOMMENDS:

“The Nutcracker and the Mouse King:

The Graphic Novel” by E. T. A. Hoffmann, illustrated and adapted by Natalie Andrewson

His Take

“This graphic novel version of the original 1816 story on which the Tchaikovsky ballet is based draws more details from the original and creates an engaging reading adventure. Author Natalie Andrewson tells the story of Marie (aka Clara) and her dream adventures with the Nutcracker prince. Familiar characters appear, including Herr Drosselmeyer, pesky brother Fritz, and the evil Mouse King.

I enjoyed the retelling of the story in a graphic format. The illustrations were colorful, and I appreciated the diversity of the characters. Since children who have seen the ballet often want to learn more about the story, I recommend this adaptation for older children and younger teens, along with any adults who still enjoy the magic of this tale.”