The Magic Nutcracker, Softcover, Beginning to Read (Modern Curriculum Press Beginning to Read) by Margaret Hillert

Beginning-To-Read

by Margaret Hillert

This collection features 96 books to give primary students varied book choices in a wide range of reading levels. Many of the books by well-known author, poet, and former first grade teacher Margaret Hillert. The series is divided in to four child-centered collections. Reading levels 1.0-1.2.

Genres: Christmas, Childrens, Picture Books

Paperback

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

Margaret Hillert has written over 80 books for children who are just learning to read. Her books have been translated into many languages and have helped children throughout the world learn to read. She first started writing poetry as a child and has continued to write for children and adults throughout her life. As a first grade teacher, Margaret realized that the books available for students just learning to read were beyond their comprehension. She then began to write her easy readers and poetry for children. Her first collection of poetry Farther Than Far was published in 1969. Her many awards include the Chicago Children's Reading Round Table Annual Award for outstanding contributions to the field of children's literature. Other honors include the David W. Longe Prize and the Michigan Bookwoman of the Year Award. A teacher for 34 years, she is now retired and lives in Michigan where she continues to write stories and poetry.

Reviews

[Amara · Rating 1 out of 5]

What the sugarplum was this? The illustrations are horrid. Clara/Marie looks like a 6 year old and the Nutcracker looks 25. Creeptastic.

Further, it isn't really a story, it's more like a "Do you see what I see?" type of book. The description says it is a book to teach phonics, but can't we make the book comprehensible also?

I had originally given Geraldine McCaughrean version The Nutcracker as the worst, but this comes a close second. It doesn't come first because this one isn't a straight retelling.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a simplified retelling of the story of The Nutcracker. As with all books in this series it uses simple text (only 66 words) that are repetitive in the book itself as well as the series (Beginning to Read). It tells the story of a young girl who gets a nutcracker for a gift. After she wakes up to get him, she realizes that he is being attacked by a mouse, and saves his life by throwing her shoe at him. After she saves him, she is taken on a magical adventure with delicious treats to eat and beautiful things to see.

This book should make young readers feel positive about their reading skills. The illustrations, which are colourful and well drawn, also help to decode the text for young children. This would be a great book for young readers who have seen this ballet or are familiar with the story. As with other books in this series, there are several activities and suggestions that parents can use with their children to reinforce their reading skills. A good book to have in a primary classroom or a family library where the children are just learning to read. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

[Dolly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an okay story that follows "The Nutcracker Suite" ballet. The illustrations seem very old-fashioned and are not very engaging for the kids. It is a brief summary of the ballet, so might be good for those who are taking their children to see the ballet, but I'm sure there are better versions.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Featured on Awful Library Books. Very creepy if read out of context.

[Rayjan Koehler · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book made me cringe!!

It is meant to give 62 sight words for a young reader, and that is good and all.

I however can't get past how it looks like a pedophile with a 5-7 year old, and especially when it looks like a 25 year old is looming over her bed in the middle of the night on page 29...

I don't think it was intended to look as it does to some of us, but I'm glad i didn't read it as a child- it would probably give me nightmares- and I didn't have nightmares at the target age of this book!

I also don't like how it doesn't give much information. It starts on page 5, with her asking an old man sitting by the Christmas tree if it's a gift for her and what the nutcracker is exactly. Probably expecting the reader it guess it's her grandfather, and not being an uncle.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the artwork. This book is for young readers but if you love ballet you'll love the artwork.

[Shana · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I received this e-book for free from Netgalley to read and review**

This book is intended to retell the story of The Nutcracker in a decodable text, with a focus on specific phonic sounds. It tells the story of a young girl who gets a nutcracker for a gift. After she wakes up to get him, she realizes that he is being attacked by the mouse king, and saves his life by throwing her shoe at him. After she saves him, she is taken on a magical adventure with delicious treats to eat and beautiful things to watch.

Overall, this book did a good job on incorporating sight words, and specific phonic concepts. It is most certainly a decodable text, and doesn't veer from this, meaning there are few words that are incorporated that do not incorporate these skills. This makes this a book that surely will be successful for new and beginning readers on the first or second try, which is ALWAYS a very positive experience for young readers. This book was quite appealing as it brings a common story down to the level of an inexperienced reader and has pictures that conveyed the sentiment of history associated with this story. This is a common Christmas treat for kids of all ages and I loved the antique feel of the illustrations to help convey that message. This would be a great book for young readers who plan to see the show.

The one area of this story that I found problematic (which led to the 3 star rating), was less a problem with the actual text itself and more a problem with turning stories like this into decodable texts. This text did not tell the story of The Nutcracker in a clear way. In order to understand the story, readers will need to have heard a different version as a read aloud, or seen the ballet to fully understand the story. If this is the goal, I think this would make a wonderful addition to a classroom unit on this story and will provide ownership of readers on the story. However, if this is not the case, I think this text overlooks the comprehension aspect of the story and children will need a lot of explanation as to what is happening.

In general, this would make a good addition to an independent leveled reading library and will surely help to practice decoding skills. Would be highly motivating for young children who are familiar with the story.

[Clare Rossetter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love ballet and I love The Nutcracker but am not always a fan of Margaret Hillert. I like that she does write beginning readers on many subjects that kids find enjoyable. The Magic Nutcracker manages to do a good job using just 66 words to tell the tale. The illustrations are much more detailed then we see in the Hillert books and they do truly project the magnificence of the ballet. There are also two pages at the end that help parents work with their child to develop reading skills. All in all I think this is a good book and would be useful as an introduction to this classic tale for small children and beginning readers.

[Kat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Besides dumbing down a story just so kids can read it, I thought the lack of 'new' words was unhelpful. At such a reading level, at any reading level, being introduce to new complicated words is how we learn them. Plus the book asked a question and then refused to answer it. Not my favorite.
Apparently, this was a forgettable book. I just read it again and then saw my review. I think every word holds true.

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This books takes a well known story and simplifies it for the beginning reader. A little above Spot, but not as big as Seuss, this early readers is a nice simplification of a timeless story. The Illustrations are digital and a little CGI tv show-ish.

[Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Noah enjoyed it. I read it to him and then I helped him read it to me. He wanted to. Not a big plot. Simple sight word story for a child's enjoyment.

[Twotwo]

ar 0.9

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Nutcracker story told in an easy reader version.