Synopses & Reviews
Review
'\"A gentle, simple story tells of a seven-year-old girl taken by her
grandfather to see The Nutcracker on the day before Christmas. It is a
day of memories, because he had taken her mother to see it at the same
age. But her mother is dead now, and Allie fears that her grandfather
will be sad. . . . The California scenery, the presentation of the
ballet, and Allie's delight are beautifully portrayed in sometimes
strong, sometimes romantic, paintings.\"'
Review
'\"Peck's freely painted oils—her rough, telling strokes leave the canvas
exposed, effectively portraying a California setting some time ago; her
dark palette . . . and impressionistic portrayals . . . refer to Degas—
reveal a new self-confidence in this talented illustrator. An evocative
vignette.\"'
Review
"A gentle, simple story tells of a seven-year-old girl taken by her grandfather to see The Nutcracker on the day before Christmas. It is a day of memories, because he had taken her mother to see it at the same age. But her mother is dead now, and Allie fears that her grandfather will be sad. . . . The California scenery, the presentation of the ballet, and Allieand#8217;s delight are beautifully portrayed in sometimes strong, sometimes romantic, paintings."
Horn Book
"Peckand#8217;s freely painted oilsand#151;her rough, telling strokes leave the canvas exposed, effectively portraying a California setting some time ago; her dark palette . . . and impressionistic portrayals . . . refer to Degasand#151; reveal a new self-confidence in this talented illustrator. An evocative vignette."
Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
Four years after the death of her mother, seven-year-old Allie goes to The Nutcracker with her grandfather who shares the memories of the special day he had when he took Allie's mother to her first performance of the ballet.
About the Author
'Storytelling and the magic of words have always been important to Eve Bunting. She grew up in Northern Ireland, where storytelling is a tradition, and came to America as a young mother. Eve writes every day and her ideas come from what excites and interests her. She has the unique ability to address contemporary social issues, from homelessness to illiteracy, in a sensitive manner, and at the same time to explore the dynamics of family relationships. Eve Bunting is the author of more than 200 beloved books for young people, from preschoolers to teenagers. Among her many popular picture books for Clarion are THE WALL, FLY AWAY HOME, and TRAIN TO SOMEWHERE. Ms. Bunting lives in Pasadena, California.'