Waltz of the Snowflakes

Running Press

Written and Illustrated by Elly MacKay

Wordless Picture Book

2017

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A new holiday classic to add to your collection, this gorgeous wordless picture book by esteemed author-illustrator Elly MacKay celebrates the magic of theater and The Nutcracker as seen through the eyes of a young girl and her grandmother.

It is a cold and rainy evening when Gran gives her granddaughter something special: tickets to the ballet. Her granddaughter is reluctant to go. The weather is terrible and they have to wear fancy, uncomfortable clothes. But as the curtains rise on The Nutcracker, the girl's eyes light up as she's introduced to the magic of the theater. The bright costumes, the intricate dances, the magical music, and a new friend all combine to captivate the girl and to bring color to an otherwise dreary evening.

Junior Library Guild Selection

"[A] fresh and wonderful addition to the crowded Nutcracker shelves. In MacKay's trademark cut-paper dioramas children can imagine themselves seated in the theater and dancing on the stage."—-Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"This would be an excellent picture book to share with students during the holidays."—-School Library Connection

"A wordless picture book about seeing 'The Nutcracker' is an inspired idea, and with utterly enchanting diorama art, McKay makes it feel like an event. (You might want to put on fancy holiday clothes just to read it.)"—-The New York Times

"Dancers-to-be will ask for encores of this enchanting book."
—-BookPage

"Theatrical, magical, and very much of the season as seeing The Nutcracker itself."—-School Library Journal, Starred Review