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PAGE 10A -- THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2007 ‘Nutcracker’ books vary in telling beloved tale If j almost time to get out the pretty diesses and shiny slioe^ for a trip to'"The Nulcrsclcr"' ballet, which is as muclt a pan oj rtie season for many families as trimming ihn uve Three new pdlM books can help enrich and expand ‘-Tlk# Nm craeker’ : experience, There liAve been many hook visions of li.T.A. Hoffman's original story and Tchaikovsky's baLlel,bul not many are as suited for the yemn^tsl read ers as two on this list, • Certainly the lovelier is “Tlie N LItcracker” (FI arperOnl I ins, $ lr> 99) hy Susan Jefffers, who has a long list of beautifully tlLu sinned books tu her name. The cover, with its. golden letters and sparklet in Marieslingids, will entrance youngsiers. {Yes, it's Marie. not CLai'a. ns in Hoffman's tale. In the original, Clara is a doll,) Jeffers describe# the Christmas party, broken nmcracker. figlii with the Mouse King's array and voyage vrith ilio UKerKkAMumed-priiice to the Load of ilw Sweets in Liwly prose, ijL'J her illustrations are mag ical and action-patted, * "My First nutcracker" (Dm ton. adapted by Stephanie "line Pciiirs, with iUnstntrions by l.indiL Erensou, is suiipltr, bill it’s also thikiming, Wh Lire JoIters" pai n l.i ngs fiVrrod panels and lhe bites of j Victorian Chris Cm de . Bronebn’H vibrate with inlonse colors: lime, tuvL{umsc. L'hocoJ^I e, resplici-ry, violet. I^ron- soq'b stylized figures art cool. • In llie "The Nutcracker Dolf (Sdioluiic. SI6.W) by Mary Newell DePalma, the story is about Keplty. wlm see?. her billot school'i production of The Nut cracker" and works hard so ■dm enn Hoditinn ncx1 year. She’s thrilled with her tiny pan. She’s, a doll that stand-s imJer the tree and gets curried off by a mouse. She loves the ?04mnie. Lights and waiting In Lite wingG, It’s a nicely told find illustriled loot at what really happens at ballet school. No one walks in the door and gets llie pari ot" the Sugar PTmnPairy. — Ftektrift Ywrg A marvelous, magical shop tale What do Santa's eGes learn in Iduool? The tif-a-bei! — lUhDiMlf C E.-.U DOGGIE BARK Grual (or man \ he:0 friend Make a special Imal fnrlhal other member of the family, phis any oilier dogs In her Life. (We hear lhal reindeer are also partial to this bark!I Be .suit to use carob chips — chocolate is harmful iii canines. INGREDIENTS • -1 cups car-ob chips • Vt cup cruamy peanut butter • */?. cup dry-routed peanuts or cEiopjXsd walnuts • i; i teaspoon ciimamori 1, in a bowl, melt the carob cl ups In 2. Stir in die pnanul butler and mi crowave for an l idler \5 seconds. Siir llie ingredientsagain to combine. 3. Add ihe nul&and the cinnamon, then Stic the mixture lo coat the mils. 4. Line jil edged cookie sheet with Aluminum foil and Ligtilly spray (tie foil with min Mick cook iny spray. Hour [El? oiLs.inri': onto the foil and chill it for 13 (Qmiites Ln [he fiEe7cr or SO minutes in [lie mliigeianif 5. kcmovi" the bark and break il inLo roughly I - by 2-inch pieces. Store It m an airtight conlainer for up lo- 2 weeks. Mates a&om TQpieces- □ hs iiiventor, Arihur GiuujeatiL called it "l-'lk-i.iri :: 1.111.-” frlii- niiigii si-i.vii "1 liui it.1 |hli|HJ|™-ley hil ttoors in 1960 ns Eleh A Skulcll- LJ 'I’Jte inner workings uf the Lich A Sketch have ItJUQined exactly Ihe *.ime for jlmoM .HI years. Wi.-riti A i'.ini-"Tj-jr tor tCwlt TJUSMr Oo you believe id magic? Actress Natalie PtiilitiaiJ l]lkcs. bite mars as iiiHLyrinv. ]>Li]to-p:ay irg hLnre intmager Mnllv \lalniiicy in the Him "Mr. Mugnniim's ^Vnulci' bmponuunT 1 ihc emporb.nii Jk a wonderfully whunsKal shop where toys .itcrally corpc lo 5 ifi;. V isJtOT5 wi IL lind bnuucy bails diat bounce tliemsclves. stuffed mii- mals that Lutg back and mode! aiiplanes Ihtu wlili through die lLt an ilntii own. among unliej esLtmjurdiiiajy toys. Bu1 when Mr. Mugnillitl, Ihe s hr>]i 1 s wacky 243-year- nkl owner, aiuKtunccH dial he's giving the shut to Ma- hoTiey.tho noimally vibrant pUc^ tutps gray and L|nid E'an tlie seLt'-dou:btLiig sltojikcei-VL' find enough magic within htL'self io luitig the sniiwrJum Iwck w life? Al tliis store, Any thing is possible. Time Pff Kidl uhalled with t\)rtreu3i ubnut her wuO- Llmtis ticw r mle. piaro lessons qod foe nimplc pltasuras in popping hnbblt? wrap. uiiat does Santa' ike to do in (he garden? Hot', hoe, hoe- ''■V.iirktTH- nib, rj) m SUGARPLUM TREATS Great Jor rtasvmaics 'Hiesa deleclalile sweeitarea Euee?.e to whip up and can bo made with any hue h>£' candy coaling — piek your favnrilci or ft tick with holiday classics. INGREDIENTS 14-ounce bag of camly melts L ralt Sticks llJ-nitnec jiackege til marsh mallow 4 Assorted sprinkles, stipars, mils, llfitod L'oeciEiul And candy decorations Crafted vifh love Check out these delightful do-it-yourself gift ideas from FamilyFun magazine KlOS’ ART WINDOW CHARMS J.inn a cootfe with atuminum foil liihI lij^hlly tpray it with ntmStick cooking spray. Melt llie candy coating according to I lie package direct Urns. Insert a cralt stick into each march- mallow. Working one at a lime, dip I hem imo ihe molted Candy coating, llicn uno one of the detoratiuns (for easy dipping, put the deo.Italians Ln shallow bowls), and pLfl.ce them un the cookie sheet. Oux alt the sngarptums are made, chill I he in jiq Ills (reay^T for Iv nuinnei. IhcyUM hrt Mdivxl in an airtighr enniftinfii for up to S days, If yo» iili-e, wr&peodi treat in □ ccEopbanB candy bag (found in emfl slums} Lici.1 with a ribbon. Makes' a dozen. FANCIFUL FEATHERED FRIENDS Gmii for Mums ri/rti grandparewJt Lveti Lhe SUjowiiCSt Ol win ter days looks Cheerier with Ihese brighlly colored duirnis hanging In the window. YOU WILL NEED + 3-iticli ivund lid * bhnnky Dink Frosted Kulf ’N L4cady wheels # Permanent marker? • SctSHIUK * Hole pouch <• MonofilanieiLt or clear elastic heading.card • bcmls 1. Faf each charm. Hare the lid nnli> a shcel of Shrinty Dink. Then draw designs in ibe circles With the markers. 2. Dil nui the charms, then ]iunoh a hole m the lop and bottom of each. 3 Hollow die package di- recLiutis to bake the charms. 4- Cut u lenglli of lhe rLianoLilLuiient (ours Was 20 inches 1 and knot one end (th is will lie lhe bottom.)- AiltE llieasfs. ilien hiring the inonofilBraeiii ilnvugli die ItOliis uf a cfiann. .Add an other bead. [lien atiutller charm, and &0 tin. uni il all thechiiUTift have been sh ung. AlIlJ a final bead, then tic the end into a loo|] foi'Jiangjiis. Fun for everyone Ytni car perch lliesc pretlv bird? in mvriaJ places: pul one on the end Of A skewer fnr a plant poke, ii^rg orw in a win dow or place several in a nest for a centerpiece. YOU WELL NEED Styrofoam ball, l J a to 2'a incites in diameter Bamboo skewer Glitter paint and paintbrush Glue dots Gfiogly eyes Meissen's Yellow pLaslic note- hook divider lab Needle-nose (aliens 20-gauge cruft wire Feathers Stick the Styro foam hall on a skewer. Fanil I Lie entire ball, then sel ihe skewer in a. cup arid Let it dry ovemighl. Rciai ove Lhe skeweF. then u?c [lie glue dots, in artach the eyes to ihe ball Fora beafc.cui a Hiiia.ll triangle from dip notebook tab. as shown, tiontly upn the hall wiih the skoWUr, (lieu in sen ilte lniiik. L se llie pliuii Ln beiU the Craft wire in La feel Poke the fed and feathers imo the ball. PhOTCSi CDURTCiVaP F-amilYPun PAd%ilrH£ the milcrowave for 30 secotuLs. Siir them wiilt a wooden spoon, thenmicruumve foi 30 seconds, more. Duslir Hoff man and Natalie Fortum n star In "Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Eirporium” TFK; plnctol^tKh HeLm said vshi were [ho timi fnnyoii he iliougim of to play Mahoney. What jnade yon say yes? PORT MAN: Zach sent me tlie scrip! in a white hoi with a usd liNum luiJ a bcLiuliful ooift. Tic WrtKe llial lie warned Ikis lllm to Iv- up there with all af tlic l lungs lli.il children love most - -. things like apple juice and raisins. It was ju!it the sweetest, sweetest Lstler. so E was sure (that 1 wanted to Ik |ian of the film) hum the first mliuite. r Hie scripl was just so magical. TFK: f^owdidyOH into Malmnay's nhoes? PORTMAN: Will, I learned Fnr a few iinrutlv; before the film- [ also rock classes during the shooi.so (lull wat ii fuO wiiy lo ^liirt Jcuming {aboul Miihoncv 1. Also. [ itiougJiI a Id abmil my own cmporicnLs:s. 1 think evoyonc tuts had bouts of insecurities and the fear of losing scuiriconc vnu love. AL! of ilinsc tilings ata pieces o-fM&hoocy'a life Him I could palate to, TFK: Have you been kcqmig up wllli piflnis since filming ended? PORTMAN: Yes, I itciually just siting J Lesions agLiitl because I was really upset lu pui all this woik vinAe movie and (hen jusl Lcl 11 gp. TFK: Whal WAS il like coning lo WCclE on a toy Htorc si*T every day? PORTMAN: It was grc:i. But I also dunk il wus re ally IruHlrntiii^ for the kids (in the casll because on a movie sct,yL-aj can t really move sfuff around. It’s- sort of die will's I fmstrarton because yviu sec alL these ama?ing ioy&, find yer, you can'i do anything widt any of ihem. TFK: The wene where Malnincy un;E Mr Magorium tue dancing on btihLile wrap is uniat! Wliait was it like io film tiKT? PORTMAN: It was »1'uhl r fhat was Z*.']t’s btikiaul idea. When you get to pop bubble wrap, i1 lotally is one of tluose ihingt wiicre you rliink. “Wow, iliis is such a simple lliing. EliL iL ittLikes me SLh, happv." Y J ou fcnmy? It's uhJ a jtiual feeling. Virtir. An C-;WrTl™« 1^0 time r^H F:ir:;.(Tri-nmpLii^.ur.rjn | In The News Wacky pacts Laugh Lines