When I ordered this from the library, I was remembering that The Harlem Nutcracker had been created using Ellington’s version of the Nutcracker Suite as its core music. I hoped this book would provide a Nutcracker with diversity and jazz without having quite as mature content as The Harlem Nutcracker. But the focus of this book is really on Ellington, his fellow musicians and how he wrote it, rather than a blend of the jazz and ballet. Sadly, the most likeable thing about this book is the illustrations.
The author’s background is in classical music, not jazz, which shows pretty quickly as it’s presented as a crazy new thing that Ellington would adapt classical music and that a jazz musician would record Christmas music. Neither was a particularly new or ground-breaking idea. That’s not to take away from Ellington’s accomplishments, which stand on their own without any artificial enhancement.
The book begins with Irving Townsend, a record producer, trying to get Ellington to sign with him. It assigns the Nutcracker odd significance, with Ellington telling Townsend either he gets to do the Nutcracker or he doesn’t sign. Ellington’s long-term collaboration with Billy Strayhorn is central to the book as well. His band is depicted as generally uncooperative. Jive talk is sprinkled throughout in a way that can only be described as awkward.
If you’re looking for a picture book about jazz, there are much better ones out there, and if you’re looking for a book about the Nutcracker, this surely isn’t it.
Sex, Nudity, Dating – None.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore – The mouse king and nutcracker duel with swords. The mouse army is armed with swords.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – People are shown drinking alcohol.
Frightening or Intense Things – Not frightening or intense, but some may be bothered by the gambling which occurs in the background.
