Noelle of the Nutcracker [Hardcover]

Pamela Jane (Author), Jan Brett (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 29, 1986 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

From the moment she sees Noelle, the beautiful ballerina doll in the toy store window, Ilyana knows that Noelle is the Christmas present she wants more than anything in the world. But Noelle has a dream of her own: to be a real ballerina, performing on stage for adoring fans. When the Imperial Ballet Company chooses Noelle to be the doll that Clara, the little girl in The Nutcracker, finds under the Christmas tree, it seems that Noelle’s dream is the one that will come true. Then, an unexpected setback makes Noelle realize that maybe, for a doll, being loved by one little girl is the best dream of all.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Jane's first book magically captures the dreams-can-come-true atmosphere of the holiday season. Ilyana and Mary Jane, second grade rivals, both fall in love with the same ballerina doll in a shop window. Mary Jane vows her rich father will get it for her, while Ilyana despairs. The doll, Noelle, doesn't want to be owned by anyoneshe dreams of being on stage. It is her dream that comes true first, when she is used as one of "Clara's" props in a production of The Nutcracker. In the meantime, Ilyana and Mary Jane prepare for the class Christmas pageant. Ilyana dresses up like Noelle, and her performance is spotted by her teacher's fiancethe propman from The Nutcracker who wants Noelle to belong to a little girl. Ilyana finds Noelle under her Christmas tree. The series of coincidences never seem strained; Jane is a skillful storyteller. Readers may wish Brett's realistic pencil drawings were in color, but this is a lovely novella any time of the year.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Jane's first book magically captures the dreams-can-come-true atmosphere of the holiday season." Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; 1ST edition (September 29, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395399696
• ISBN-13: 978-0395399699
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,329,531 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Pamela Jane is the author of twenty-six books for children, including NOELLE OF THE NUTCRACKER, illustrated by Jan Brett, which has been optioned for a film, and the "Winky Blue" series by Mondo Publishing. Her book A VAMPIRE IS COMING FOR DINNER: 10 RULES TO FOLLOW (Price Stern Sloan, a Division of Penguin Books for Young Readers 2010) illus. by Pedro Rodriquez was called "A ghoulishly good time," by Publisher's Weekly. Her picture book LITTLE GOBLINS TEN illustrated by NY Times best-selling illustrator Jane Manning is new from Harper in 2011. LITTLE GOBLINS TEN received a starred review from Kirkus, and a review in the Sunday New York Times Review of books. Pamela lives in PA with her husband, her daughter, and their cat, Mittens.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect old-fashioned story, June 11, 2001

By 

Thankful (NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Noelle of the Nutcracker (Hardcover)

This is a book that makes you think back to your own childhood. To times that were simpler, sweeter, and full of dreams. The writing is a dream, and the story is perfect for the little girl on your Christmas list. What little girl today, even in the age of computers and scooters, doesn't love a doll, one, doll, a special doll, more than anything else? Pamela Jane captures the mystery of childhood, the dream of dance, and the promise of the imagination.

5.0 out of 5 stars from missprint.wordpress.com, July 25, 2008

By 

Miss Print (NYC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Noelle of the Nutcracker (Hardcover)

Noelle of the Nutcracker by Pamela Jane (with illustrations by the inimitable Jan Brett) is one of those books that I seem to have had forever. Copyrighted in 1986, my hardcover copy has been on my bedroom bookshelf since before I can remember. Needless to say that I did not remember much of the story. Happily, though, it is a fast read and I was able to finish it in a day. I dare say there are families somewhere who read this book every Christmas season the way others read Twas the Night Before Christmas and A Christmas Carol (if not, there should be).

There are two main characters in this book. One is a doll named Noelle and the other is a little girl, Ilyana. At the beginning of the story, the characters have one thing in common: they both think Noelle is wonderful.

When Ilyana and her second grade class go to visit Bugle's toy store, Ilyana is captivated by Noelle the beautiful ballerina doll that can stand in all five ballet positions and even has jointed knees and ankles. Ilyana knows her family could never afford such an expensive doll, which is fine. At least until spoiled Mary Jane decides vows that she'll get Noelle for Christmas from her rich father.

Unbeknownst to either little girl, Noelle doesn't want to be owned by anyone. While the other toys dream of being loved and held by real children, Noelle yearns to be discovered and become a dancer on stage. Noelle knows she is destined for fame when a man comes into Bugle's and buys Noelle to be a part of a production of the Nutcracker ballet. But, as Noelle painfully learns, being discovered doesn't always mean fame. And it almost never takes the place of being loved.

Noelle's story is intertwined seamlessly with Ilyana's and, to a lesser extent, Mary Jane's. As the girls get ready for their school pageant, it becomes clear that sometimes it takes more than money to make a wish come true. Sometimes, especially at Christmas, it also takes a little magic (and in this case maybe a few coincidences).

Sometimes when I read books with a child character they feel too young-I'm sure a child would enjoy them but sometimes I have a hard time relating to them on the same level of enjoyment. This book is not like that. The story is short and easy to follow, but it remained enjoyable for me reading it at the age of twenty-two. Jan Brett's illustrations also, of course, add a lot of dimension to the story (although being familiar with Brett's color-illustrated picture books I was a little sad to see the drawings were not in color). After reading the story and once again turning to the cover it's amazing to see how perfectly Brett captured Pamela Jane's vision of Noelle.

This is one of those classic Christmas stories (like the one that I mentioned earlier) that offers a nice shot of holiday spirit along with a message that's worth remembering all year.

5.0 out of 5 stars Jan Brett is phenomenal!!!, January 15, 2007

By 

Karen M. Ferry "tanamary" (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Noelle of the Nutcracker (Hardcover)

Jan Brett is a wonderful author and, even more so, a phenomenal artist and illustrator. Her characters are playful and fun and easily loved by her young readers. My grandaughter's favourite, Annie and the Wild Animals, has been read a hundred times. I've collected a number of Jan Brett's books and hope to pass them on to my great grandchildren!!!