We’re huge fans of Dogs Don’t Do Ballet and The Muttcracker reunites us with Biff, the main character, in a feelgood, festive story which brings him and his owner onto the stage for a seasonal performance of The Nutcracker.
The Story: Biff dreams of being The Sugar Plum Fairy and is disappointed when he and his friend are chosen to play bonbons. At first he hides in his basket, but when he sees his friend struggling to practise on her own, he pulls himself out of his misery to practise with her. But when the opening night arrives the Sugar Plum Fairy is feeling sick and Biff is offered the part. He must make a quick decision – follow his dream or support his friend…
Themes of friendship, determination and being positive in the face of disappointment are intertwined with the enjoyment of dancing and the excitement of preparing for a Christmas show. We love the way that Biff supports his friend throughout the story and admire their determination to be the best bonbons in the box! Dad is really supportive too – we love his line, ‘There’s dancing on the telly’!
The sparkly red cover captures the festive spirit and the magic of dance, we love Sara Ogilvie’s illustrations which are colourful and full of detail. There’s a plethora of sparkly tiaras, tutus and fabulous outfits – the enormous skirt is particularly impressive! The show scenes are fabulous with toy soldiers dancing and snowflakes waltzing and the names of the bonbon dances made us smile – Sherbet Shuffle, Lollipop Bop and Jellybean Jive.
The Muttcracker is a fabulous book to initiate discussions about how you feel when you don’t get to do or be something or somebody you want. It highlights the importance of perseverance whilst celebrating loyalty and friendship. It’s a fantastic festive read that’s perfect all year round.
Age Range: 3 +
Author: Anna Kemp / Illustrator: Sara Ogilvie
You can watch Abi Elphinstone reading The Muttcracker on YouTube;
We’ve also enjoyed this beautifully illustrated edition of The Nutcracker and Kitty Lacey’s nutcracker adventure in The Fairytale Hairdresser and the Sugar Plum Fairy.
More Christmas books, arts and crafts on Pinterest
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