Got almost nothing out of this experience. Hopefully the ballet reveals something where this translated written work did not! ( )

The pictures verge on nightmarish. I wouldn't give it to young or impressionable children. ( )

Winter 2019;

I said to my best friend "It's funny, I accepted at 148 that I wasn't going to hit 150 books this year. That it doesn't need to kill me that I didn't hit some arbitary number no one is actually staring down their nose and making sure I hit. But, then, I opened and closed [b:The Invasion|776877|The Invasion (Animorphs, #1)|K.A. Applegate|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1456853880l/776877._SX50_.jpg|356806] on the plane here. So, hilariously, I'm going to end at 149 instead."

She leaned over to her right and handed me this.

Somehow, even though I've watched uncounted dozens of 'The Nutcracker' ballet versions, I never knew this story was actually a novella (and this version with these swoon worthy illustrations that she'd tracked down). I loved reading the introduction with the illustrator/translator telling the story of 'Hard Nut' and how they hadn't ever known that was a story, and, reader, me, too. I never ever knew and it's like the full middle third of this novella.

I loved it and I want a copy. I spent so much time going through it thinking it would be an amazing story to read to children night-by-night at Christmas time as they were getting into the season. ( )

Delightful.
My book is Vol 237 of the "Kings Treasuries of Literature", a series of books designed for teachers to use in their classrooms. ( )

Uma extraordinária aventura que envolve feitiços, reinos encantados, brinquedos que ganham vida e uma épica batalha contra o terrível Rei dos Camundongos.