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Donna Parrey is a Florida-based author and pet adopter who combines
her love of the arts and her love of animals in her first children’s book,
The MuttCracker. An experienced researcher and business writer, she turns
her skills toward creating a fun reading experience. “My research into various dog breeds felt like I was holding virtual auditions for the various roles I wanted
to fill for the characters in my book. I am so happy with the matches between the dogs’ various personalities and their characters, and the artist brought them all
to life beautifully!” says Parrey.
Parrey explains her inspiration for The MuttCracker: "The seed for the book was planted back in 2000 or so, when both of my daughters were participating in St. Petersburg’s ‘Nutcracker in the Park,’ a wonderful outdoor ballet. Every holiday season, my life was happily consumed with their rehearsals and performances. I saw them and their friends progress through various roles. Some of the performers’ parents worked on the lovely costumes featured in the ballet, and those images stayed with me and influenced my characters’ costumes. St. Petersburg is a very dog-friendly town. I first wrote the book in 2002 for my children and their friends, published with my own amateur drawings. Bringing The MuttCracker to life with professional illustrations in a quality hard cover edition was a bucket list item that begged to be checked off so that I could share the book with others who love dogs and love the arts!
Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
Clarisse, a German Shepherd, is excited about Christmas. When the Droolmeister, her Great Dane godfather, gives her a magical dog toy, dressed like a toy soldier, (“a Muttcracker,” her godfather explains), she is transported into a fantasy world of doggie wonders. There’s a battle between Labrador Retriever soldiers and a three-headed cat king; a Cocker Spaniel Sugar Plum Fairy welcomes them to the Land of Treats; a Dance of Hot Chocolate from Spain, performed by a Chihuahua; and so much more. It’s a Nutcracker classic gone to the dogs!
If you love dogs and you love the classic tale of The Nutcracker, you’ll love this canine re-make. Donna Parrey’s colorful and delightfully entertaining book, The MuttCracker, will charm readers of all ages. There are 15 dog breeds featured as the romping, playful, imaginative characters carry the story along a similar plotline to that of the classic. You don’t need to know The Nutcracker original to follow along. Just open your minds and hearts to a lot of imaginative fun and adventure with many dogs taking the lead roles. I instantly fell in love with Clarisse. Although I’m a Border Collie Mom, I do love a sweet German Shepherd and Clarisse fits the role of lead character so well. She carries the story forward with a charm one would expect from this breed: loving and passionate and downright sweet (you can tell I’m a dog-lover). I was enchanted by the interaction between the various dog breeds, concerned about the vicious cat king, and delighted with the costumed dancing, performing dogs. The story is a seasonal treasure, a treat for all ages.
