I mentioned a few weeks ago that I would have some fun giveaways to share on my blog during this winter holiday season, and here’s one of my favorites. I have a hardcopy edition of an absolutely gorgeous new children’s book – The Nutcracker: A Magical Theater Book - to send to a winning reader.
Details of how to enter the giveaway are at the end of this post, but first, let me tell you a bit about this lovely book, which five year old C and two year old G have been enjoying for several weeks now, after I was lucky enough to receive a copy for our family to check out.
One of my favorite things about this newest imagining of The Nutcracker is how incredibly tactile it is. The book is heavy and substantial, with sturdy, old-fashioned binding and thick, glossy pages. It’s a book that isn’t meant to only be read to or by your children, it’s meant to be touched and turned and carried around by little hands.
And speaking of little hands, this book’s heft and sturdy construction mean that I can allow even my two year old to hold and turn the pages, and not worry that she will accidentally tear or otherwise damage it. This is the kind of heirloom quality children’s book that you and your children simply can’t experience via Kindle or iPad download. It’s a book to be enjoyed now and then passed along to another generation of children later.
The book’s illustrations offer a soft, hazy and warm version of the famous ballet, making it inviting for little readers and listeners by avoiding emphasis on some of the scarier imagery (those rats!) that have sometimes popped up in other Nutcracker storybooks. For my princess-obsessed little girls, the beautiful Sugarplum Fairy’s appearance is definitely the highlight of the narrative. They are thrilled when we get to that page every time. Plus, in addition to the sweet illustrations, the book is full of intricate, clever die cut outs with moving characters that make the story even more lively when reading it, just like a ballet in a book.
After having read the book with C and G many, many times in recent weeks (!!!), I am now planning to next month take C (and maybe even G if I am feeling particularly brave) to see the ballet for the very first time. And because she’s come to know the story already, it will make the ballet more understandable and enjoyable for her as the dancers perform it.
So now that I’ve told you how much we are enjoying this beautiful new book here at Casa Hickju, I am excited that I get to give a copy to one of you to enjoy with the children in your life.
Here’s how to enter the giveaway:
- Leave a comment on this blog post before midnight EST on Monday, November 19 2012 sharing your favorite winter holiday book or movie to share with your children (or grandchildren or nieces and nephews, etc etc) each year.
-When you leave your comment-slash-entry, be sure to enter a REAL email address where I can REALLY contact you if you win. Your email address is only visible to me, not to blog readers.
-On Tuesday, November 20, I will select the winner by assigning each entry a number, and entering the numbers into Random.org. I will announce the winner on my blog on Wednesday, and will also contact the winner by email to ask for a mailing address to which the winner’s copy of The Nutcracker: A Magical Theater Book will be shipped.
And that’s it! Easy as pumpkin pie. I can’t wait to read about your own holiday favorites. Also, if any of you would like to order the book for yourselves, you just go HERE and enter the code NUTCRACKER for a 25% discount.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!! And a big thank you to the fine folks at Chronicle Books for giving me the chance to review this new book, and to offer a copy to one of y’all.
My all-time favorite Christmas book growing up was The Sweet Smell of Christmas by Patricia M. Scarry. Every other page has a scratch and sniff sticker for Christmas smells, like apple pie, candle canes, pine tree, hot cocoa as the little bear would smell his way through the book as Christmas gets closer and closer. I loved that book so much I bought it for my girls last year and it is still just as fun!
Now for movies I am going to have to say It's a Wonderful Life…I cry EVERY TIME!!
We love, love, love The Polar Express book and movie. Also my husband reads 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to our boys at bed time on Christmas Eve. It's always such a special night.
Love, love, love this book. So much family fun.
So much family fun! Love, love, love the look of this book.
My 20 yr old and I have always watched different version of a Christmas Carol every year, I now have an 18 mo old and 2 mo old I want to share that tradition with.
Elf on a Shelf is hands down my kids favorite Christmas book. Last year they even had a TV special also. We have had our own Elf on a Shelf (Eddie) for 3 yrs now & my kids who aren't so little anymore (15 & 12) LOVE finding every morning. They can't wait to see where he pops up next!
We have a beautiful pop-up Twelve Days of Christmas book that my children are always excited to find when we unpack our Christmas decorations each year. It is absolutely stunning…and also delicate, so it's amazing that my children have kept it intact over the years. I love the thought that one day that some or all of my grandchildren will be able to enjoy unpacking that book and hear stories about how "Grandma" was always so particular about where that book was put, how it was handled…
The favourite Christmas movies in our family are Home Alone and Polar Express.
*My* favorite movies are One Magic Christmas — Jan Rubeš was, quite simply, the past Santa Claus ever, anywhere, and it was Sarah Polley's first film role — and a made-for-tv movie called Man in the Santa Suit with Bert Convey, Gary Burghoff and a cameo by Fred Astaire. Not sure why. There was also a program on tv in the late '70s called A Gift To Last starring Gordon Pinsent which has remained with me.
The favourite books are Carl The Christmas Carp (no, it's not a funny book), and Frank Mc Court's Angela's Angel. I found the latter last Christmas, and it makes me all weepy…
The polar express. First to my children….this year to my grandson.
No idea how I posted that without the title capitalized. Whoops.
We are big Seuss fans, and we love The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.
For as long as I can remember we have always watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation on Christmas Eve. My brother and I can quote every line and for some reason it always brings us all together. Every once in awhile, I turn it on during the year just to get that same "home" feeling that I get laughing at Aunt Bethany saying the blessing. It's not as heart warming as others. But for me it's perfect family!
Much love
My parents bought one of those recordable books at Hallmark a few years ago and every Christmas my daughter gets to hear them read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to her.
My parents bought one of those recordable books at the card store a few years ago and every Christmas my daughter gets to hear them read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to her.
We love the movie 'Elf.' Along with lots of humor, it demonstrates the pure joy of Christmas. Love it!
We read Twas the Night Before Xmas every year – such great memories of cuddling up in my parents bed before the tortuous hours waiting for Santa's arrival.
Our favorite is still "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", both the book and the original animated TV special.
Our favorite is still "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", both the book and the original animated TV special.