

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King illustrated by Gail De Marcken [written by by E.T. A. Hoffman]. Orchard Books (September 2009); 56 pages; ISBN 9780976865582;
Book Source: Review copy provided for free by publisher (View my full disclosure statement for more information about my reviews.)

Christmas is a magical time a year, with dancing, falling snow, smiling faces, sparkling lights and brisk temperatures causing frosty breaths. Even Santa Claus is not immune to the wonders of the season. He feels the magic in his whiskers long before his magical flight on Christmas Eve.
Bestselling author Lauren Thompson poetically describes Santa's preparations and the magic of his journey in her newest book, The Christmas Magic. There's so much to do and Santa, in his bunny slippers, gets to work by trimming his beard, feeding the reindeer, polishing the sleigh bells and checking the big book of children's names. Finally, the magical night arrives and Santa sets off flying up into the glorious, bluish, snow-filled sky.
Jon J. Muth brings out the minimalist in Santa Claus in his watercolor and pastel illustrations. Santa's sparse surroundings include only a small house and barn for his reindeer. Readers won't find elves, Mrs. Santa Claus or any of the typical North Pole hustle and bustle in this quiet, reflective book. Just Santa Claus alone with his reindeer and a cat. The book provides young readers an unusual, alternate glimpse into the life of Santa Claus. The simplicity of it all is striking and, well, downright magical.
The Christmas Magic by Lauren Thompson, illustrated by Jon J. Muth . Scholastic Press (September 2009); 40 pages; ISBN 9780439774970;
Book Source: Review copy provided for free by publisher (View my full disclosure statement for more information about my reviews.)


Two (2) winners will receive both books:
* The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
* The Christmas Magic
To enter, leave a comment relevant to this post.
• For contact purposes, if you are a non-blogger or your email is not accessible in your blog profile, please leave a valid email address within the comment section.Three ways to gain extra entries (Maximum total entries is 4):
• Contest is open to US only
• Contest ends on Monday, November 30th, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST.
• Winners will be chosen at random and notified by email
1st extra entry: Follow Me! or subscribe by email or RSS reader
2nd extra entry: Blog about this contest then post your link in the comment section.
3rd extra entry: Follow me on twitter (iambrimful) and tweet about the contest.
119 comments:
Every year I fill our coffee table with Christmas stories to read to my boys. These would be a wonderful addition to our collection. I do not have either of these.
wmmahaney at att dot net
It's time to introduce my grandkids to the Nutcracker. I can't wait to read these books to the kids.
clenna at aol dot com
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clenna at aol dot com
I adore the Nutcracker. I'd love to read it to my class.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
Email subscriber.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
I love that Santa has bunny slippers! And both of the covers are beautiful, I'm sure the inside illustrations are wonderful. Thanks!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
I subscribe via google reader.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
Every home needs a copy of the Nutcracker. It is classic! And, it makes it so much more worth while when you go to see the ballet to already know the story!
I follow your blog
Our little ones are getting a bit older, I think they may sit down long enough for me to read them the story of the Nutcracker
karenmed409 at comcast dot net
I would love to win these for my niece they look like wonderful books
msboatgal at aol.com
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I'd love to share these with my daughter!
Desi
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Desi
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When I was little my grandma took me to the Nutcracker play and I loved it. I'd love to read these to my sons.
Follow and subscribe.
I so love Christmas book at Christmas time.
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My niece is dancing in the Nutcracker this month and I'd love to win this to give the book to her for Christmas. Thanks for the giveaway!
s.mickelson at gmail dot com
We only have 1 Christmas book and I'd love to add to our collection! My daughter had been watching the Princessa Nutcracker DVD and I think she'd love to see the whole story.
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My daughter danced in the live performance... so proud! :)
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Blog http://ladyd-books.blogspot.com/2009/11/book-giveaway-nutcracker-and-mouse-king.html
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Thank you!
would love to introduce my 4 year old to the Nutcracker
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Oh, what beautiful books. I love the Nutcracker story, and The Christmas Magic looks wonderful. I love the quote you posted.
Thank you,
smithln2(at)si(dot)edu
My son's class is doing a little dance to the nutcracker, I would love to share this book with him. Thanks!
My ballet teacher would love these books--she uses books in her class for kids all the time :D
haleymathiot at yahoo.com
I follow you on twitter and tweeted twitter.com/haleymathiot
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thanks!!
Beautiful books!
I am a follower and email subscriber
girlfrienddesignz(at)gmail(dot)com
These are books that I would love to share with my grandson and start a tradition of reading these each year to help share the magic of Christmas.
I follow you and subscribe by email and Google Reader.
Thank you,
Christine
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I follow you on Twitter and tweeted about this giveaway http://twitter.com/ossmcalc/status/5629092823
Thank you,
Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net
My granddaughter has been to a Nutcracker production and loved it. She would really like this book.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
I subscribe and follow.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
so far we have no christmas books so this would be a perfect addition to her book collection and to add some christmas spirit
ykatrina at hotmail dot com
this would be the perfect gift for my son!
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I would love to win these books for my daughter! I would like to start introducing her to the Nutcracker and look forward to taking her to see the live performance when she is older.
dropcqueen at yahoo.com
These look so beautiful! I always saw the Nutcracker every year as a kid!
BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com
I'm a follower.
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My niece is dancing the part of the Snow Queen this year in The Nutcracker. I'm so proud of her! I'd love to give her this book to in honor of her senior year performance!
I would love these for my children. My daughter and I went to see the Nutcracker and she loved it.
Christie C
dctm at bellsouth dot net
These would be great books to read to my kids.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Amy B.
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I'm a follower
Thanks for the giveaway!
Amy B.
adennispac@yahoo.com
These would be wonderful books to read with my little ones!
khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com
I'm a follower!
khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com
I've never read the actual Nutcracker before either, and I didn't realize many of the details you mentioned. I had no idea the mouse king had 7 heads either! But the illustrations look amazing. They both sound like great books!
mommastaci33(at)yahoo(dot)com
I subscribe. Thanks!
mommastaci33(at)yahoo(dot)com
Every day before quiet time I read to my daycare kids. I like to be able to read to them books pertaining to holidays that are approaching and I would love to add these to our collection. I think the older kids would really enjoy them.
Thanks for the chance!!
I follow along with google reader :)
I would love to have these books to help my little girls get in to the holiday season. I love Christmas. I love books! Good combination. :)
jaimiemildred at gmail dot com
I follow!
jaimiemildred at gmail dot com
I love holiday books! Right now we are reading Thanks for Thanksgiving and we love it!
I have a small collection of Christmas books and would love to add to it. (Our current fav is Mortimer's Christmas Manger).
I saw the Nutcracker Ballet as a child and I loved it! We also own the Barbie DVD you mentioned, and hope to take our toddler in the coming years!
Cassie
cjm92995@yahoo.com
The kids would love these! I am crossing my fingers! Thanks! jacquecurl1@gmail.com
I follow. jacquecurl1@gmail.com
We read a new holiday book together every Christmas Eve- last year it was Polar Express!
linjenals at yahoo dot com
I'm curious about these 2 beautiful new Christmas books! Terri
Nutcracker is my favorite X-mas story
timmiedeluca@comcast.net
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i think my son would enjoy me reading these books to him duting the holiday season!
thompson_tanda@yahoo.com
These would be great for our family for the holidays. Thanks for the chance, justicecw@hotmail.com
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justicecw@hotmail.com
Follow on twitter and tweeted at http://twitter.com/justicecw/status/5787995300
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I can't believe Christmas is around the corner -- I need to get some nice Christmas picture books for the holidays. These look amazing!
Thanks --
Lori
I subscribe through bloglines!
I would love to share these with my children!
marielay@gmail.com
I am a subscriber.
marielay@gmail.com
Please include me in the contest!
clariline 98 at yahoo dot com
Christmas is my favorite holiday and reading is my favorite hobby. How fun it would be to win these books to combine the two!
mearley@twinlakes.k12.in.us
Looks like a good book, please enter me into this drawing.
Thanks for hosting this giveaway.
jake.lsewhere[at]gmail.com
I'm a follower via Google Reader.
Thanks for hosting this giveaway.
jake.lsewhere[at]gmail.com
I've also blogged about this giveaway here.
Thanks,
jake.lsewhere[at]gmail.com
Both books look great, but I am really looking forward to sharing The Christmas Magic with my children.
betsy_349@hotmail.com
These both look like gorgeous books for the Christmas season
I follow your blog
I tweeted about your giveaway and now follow your twitter feed
The illustrations by Jon J. Muth are beautiful. I love the theme of simplicity amidst all the modern Christmas craziness.
mayacarpenter at verizon dot net
I'm a follower.
My daughter's next "theme" in school is Nutcracker - perfect timing!
mayacarpenter at verizon dot net
I follow you on twitter and tweeted http://twitter.com/janetmom2maya/status/5967102148
thanks for the button to make it easy peasey!
mayacarpenter at verizon dot net
I blogged here
http://giveawaysonblogs.blogspot.com/2009/10/ends-113009.html
mayacarpenter at verizon dot net
my son has long time been a mystified by nutcrackers I would love to win these for him
shopannies@yahoo.com
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posted on my blog http://shopannies.blogspot.com/2009/11/fan-of-nutcrackers.html
shopannies@Yahoo.com
following on twitter and tweeted
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My 4year old great niece is enchanted with the Nutcracker..this would be a perfect gift for her..thanks for the chance
kdhaney AT gmail DOT com
I follow on GFC
kdhaney AT gmail DOT com
we are going to the nutcracker Saturday and next month the girls will be dancing to nutcraker songs for their ballet recital
My daughter would love these books! We haven't been to The Nutcracker, but I know she'd be mesmerized.
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
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It used to be a yearly tradition for us to go to the Nutcracker ballet. What a fun experience! I still love to listen to the music (year-round), but I have to admit that I've never read the original book. Something I should do...
celialarsen(at)gmail(dot)com
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You know I have always adored the Nutcracker but have never owned a book about it, would love to win and share my love for it with my daughter
disintegratingstarr@hotmail.com
My mom collects Nutcrackers so my kids are interested in the story. My 5 year old liked the Prima Princessa Nutcracker DVD and we have a higher level picture book, but I would love to see if these versions don't go "over their heads".
onlycancan ta hotmail tod com
We posted about this giveaway at Winning Readings: http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/11/two-christmas-books_28.html
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
I'm a follower!
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
I'm looking for more Christmas books for my daughter, and these look beautiful!
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
I would love to win those books! We are thinking of going to see Nutcracker too this year.
Both sound like wonderful titles!
My kids would love these
plb8156@aol.com
My Granddaughter has Barbie and the Nutcracker, and I would love her to have a book to read about it as well .
If I was the lucky winner of these lovely books; I would share them with my preschool class!
Zoe0825@verizon.net
I'm a faithful follower of your blog!
Zoe0825@verizon.net
I love giving my grandchildren books for Christmas. These would be perfect.
SamneneD@aol.com
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