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Grand Jeté and Me: A Christmas Holiday Book for Kids
This Christmas, join a young girl and her grandmother as they embark on a holiday adventure to see The Nutcracker together! Her grandmother, known as Grand Jeté, was once a prima ballerina and danced in The Nutcracker herself, and now she's sharing the magic of this special ballet. Former prima ballerina Allegra Kent and bestselling Fancy Nancy illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser collaborate to create an inspiring and festive tale for the littlest dancers and Nutcracker fans everywhere.
Grand Jeté is an expert on everything elegant and makes sure to always model the proper etiquette of a poised ballerina. Her granddaughter wants to be just like her one day.
Take a bow!
Straight spine.
Look your best.
And always carry flowers!
Follow the pair as they embark on an unforgettable trip to their favorite theater to see The Nutcracker--sharing the spirit of ballet wherever they go.
Grand Jeté is an expert on everything elegant and makes sure to always model the proper etiquette of a poised ballerina. Her granddaughter wants to be just like her one day.
Take a bow!
Straight spine.
Look your best.
And always carry flowers!
Follow the pair as they embark on an unforgettable trip to their favorite theater to see The Nutcracker--sharing the spirit of ballet wherever they go.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 19, 2021
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 3, 2021
3.5 STARS I'm not quite sure how to rate this.
On one hand, I love Robin Preiss Glasser's illustrations and it's great that she was a professional ballet dancer so she does a nice job illustrating the ballet positions properly. It's also nice that sets and costumes from Balanchine's version of "The Nutcracker" (the costumes by Karinska and sets by Rouben Ter-Arutunian) are shown in the illustrations. I love the idea of the grandmother (former professional ballerina) taking her granddaughter to see the ballet she herself had starred in long ago. The illustration where the grandmother looks up at the prima ballerina, playing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy (her own role once upon a time) just caught at my heart -- that look of both pride and longing, joy and sorrow -- feeling grateful that the show does go on, but wishing so desperately that you could still be part of it... those who have loved the stage, and who have had to transition to audience members, will feel that pang.
On the other hand, some of it was just a bit too... precious, or something...? I hate to say this, as Allegra Kent is a very real person, and she was George Balanchine's muse when she danced for the New York City Ballet, and the book is based on her own experiences taking her granddchildren to see the ballet... I don't know, maybe her grandchildren call her "Grande Jete" and they all do ballet steps in the kitchen like the little girl and her grandmother in this story. It all just felt a little too close to "Fancy Nancy" with everything being "Fancy" and somehow it didn't feel as vibrant and fresh as I'd hoped.
Still, I recommend it to those looking for picture books about ballet or grandmother-grandchild outings. Note for sensitive readers: it does recount the events of "The Nutcracker" including that the Mouse King is killed by Marie (Clara).
On one hand, I love Robin Preiss Glasser's illustrations and it's great that she was a professional ballet dancer so she does a nice job illustrating the ballet positions properly. It's also nice that sets and costumes from Balanchine's version of "The Nutcracker" (the costumes by Karinska and sets by Rouben Ter-Arutunian) are shown in the illustrations. I love the idea of the grandmother (former professional ballerina) taking her granddaughter to see the ballet she herself had starred in long ago. The illustration where the grandmother looks up at the prima ballerina, playing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy (her own role once upon a time) just caught at my heart -- that look of both pride and longing, joy and sorrow -- feeling grateful that the show does go on, but wishing so desperately that you could still be part of it... those who have loved the stage, and who have had to transition to audience members, will feel that pang.
On the other hand, some of it was just a bit too... precious, or something...? I hate to say this, as Allegra Kent is a very real person, and she was George Balanchine's muse when she danced for the New York City Ballet, and the book is based on her own experiences taking her granddchildren to see the ballet... I don't know, maybe her grandchildren call her "Grande Jete" and they all do ballet steps in the kitchen like the little girl and her grandmother in this story. It all just felt a little too close to "Fancy Nancy" with everything being "Fancy" and somehow it didn't feel as vibrant and fresh as I'd hoped.
Still, I recommend it to those looking for picture books about ballet or grandmother-grandchild outings. Note for sensitive readers: it does recount the events of "The Nutcracker" including that the Mouse King is killed by Marie (Clara).
January 9, 2022
A little girl visits her grandmother in New York at Christmastime. When she was younger, the grandmother, called Grand Jeté, was a principal dancer for the New York Ballet. The two practice their ballet technique as they make lunch and prepare to go to the Nutcracker together. The girl gets to meets all her grandmother's friends backstage and enjoys a wonderful performance.
Author Allegra Kent based this story on her own experience of taking her grandchildren to the Nutcracker - Kant was in the original Balanchine production in 1954. I loved Robin Preiss Glasser's illustrations. I felt nostalgic thinking about the times I saw the Nutcracker as a little girl. How fun would it be to watch the ballet with a grandparent who had performed it herself.
Cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com
Author Allegra Kent based this story on her own experience of taking her grandchildren to the Nutcracker - Kant was in the original Balanchine production in 1954. I loved Robin Preiss Glasser's illustrations. I felt nostalgic thinking about the times I saw the Nutcracker as a little girl. How fun would it be to watch the ballet with a grandparent who had performed it herself.
Cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com
February 26, 2022
Allegra Kent and Robin Preiss Glasser have crafted a beautiful book. Kent tells a tale of a girl going to the ballet with her grandmother, but there is so much deeper than just a simple outing with grandma. She captures ballet vocabulary and she captures the unique relationship that kids have with their very special grandmas!
Robin Preiss Glasses is a fabulous artist ("Fancy Nancy"), and once again, she brings these characters to life with her inimitable style. She manages to make the characters so real, and yet brings a sense of wonder and the whimsical to the story.
This book is wonderful!
Robin Preiss Glasses is a fabulous artist ("Fancy Nancy"), and once again, she brings these characters to life with her inimitable style. She manages to make the characters so real, and yet brings a sense of wonder and the whimsical to the story.
This book is wonderful!
February 13, 2022
An utterly charming book about a young girl and her grandmother, who used to be a prima ballerina. Off they go together to see The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center after their own dressing and primping. The illustrations of this book are full of color and detail showing the beautiful costumes in all their magic. This story is like a fairy tale, not only about The Nutcracker itself but the wonderful relationship between this young girl and her grandmother, the "Grand Jete" of the title. This will be appreciated by any young girl who takes ballet lessons aspires to be a ballerina someday.
February 15, 2023
With a mother who loves to dance as well and was once a ballet teacher herself, I couldn't stop myself from getting this book as a gift for my niece so that they could share it together at bedtime. Grandma and granddaughter both dancing together in the living room and doing their own steps as they get excited to share this special activity together! What a wonderful book to encourage a love of dance, but also a bond between loved ones!
January 20, 2024
A perfect series of books for a ballerina-loving, ballet loving, totally enamored worshiper of all things ballet.
Both text and illustrations make it clear that the child narrator of this picture book WORSHIPS her grandmother.
It's a ballet lover's fantasy come true. For instance:
When we make lunch,
we arabesque our plates
For the sake of intended readers, this book is a toe shoe-in at FIVE STARS.
Both text and illustrations make it clear that the child narrator of this picture book WORSHIPS her grandmother.
It's a ballet lover's fantasy come true. For instance:
When we make lunch,
we arabesque our plates
For the sake of intended readers, this book is a toe shoe-in at FIVE STARS.
November 4, 2021
This story is about a grandma and a little kid. They go to the ballet. I liked how they threw flowers and I liked the pictures. I didn't like how they did everything so fancy like they were dancing all the time. (review by Preslie, 3rd grade)
November 22, 2021
Grandmother and granddaughter go to see Nutcracker.
Grandmother was a former ballerina who danced Sugar Plum.
NYCB is never mentioned in the story text, but this is definitely NYCB (and the back matter says so).
Grandmother was a former ballerina who danced Sugar Plum.
NYCB is never mentioned in the story text, but this is definitely NYCB (and the back matter says so).
December 15, 2022
A precious picture book about a Grandmother (and former prima ballerina) taking her granddaughter to see the Nutcracker. Includes ballet terms and lovely illustrations. A good read for kids interested in ballet.
February 7, 2022
For the family who loves dance and ballet, this is one to check out.
The grandma/grandchild relationship is cute.
The grandma/grandchild relationship is cute.
February 16, 2025
Beautiful book! Love it!!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews