As part of the blog tour, today we welcome author, Anna Kemp to @mybookcorner.reviews to tell us what inspired her to write the wonderful ‘The Muttcracker’ – a picture book that will be a super addition to many a Christmas wishlist.

Be sure to check out this brilliant ‘The Muttcracker Activity Pack’ full of puzzles and colouring in pages about Biff and his friends.

Each page is a sweet delight with many humourous touches bringing the world of The Nutcracker ballet to life. Sparkly tiaras, tutus and fabulous outfits are plentiful – look out for the giant skirt.

Right from the start, we cannot help but fall in love with Biff and his enthusiasm and determination to be a ballerina.

This heartwarming story of loyalty and friendship will have you up and dancing this festive season. Over to you, Anna!

The Muttcracker: Biff Bounces Back!

By Anna Kemp

For years I tried to think up a new adventure for Biff, the ballet-dancing star of Dogs Don’t Do Ballet. Dogs don’t do football? Dogs don’t do baking? Dogs don’t do tiddlywinks? I tried them all. But none of them worked, because Biff only has one true passion, and that’s ballet.

Then, one day, as I was looking through some photos of old school plays, I had an idea!

Now, I don’t know about you, but in all my years at infant school I never landed the part of Mary in the Christmas Nativity and, well, I was pretty miffed about it. My mum told me (kindly), ‘That’s life,’ and of course she was right. Sometimes we get the star part, or win a prize, or come first on sports day, but often things don’t go our way and we just have to get on with being a barn animal, or a grumpy innkeeper, or shepherd number 5. But it’s not easy!

It’s these inevitable (but miffing!) disappointments that inspired Biff’s second adventure: The Muttcracker.

In this story, Biff’s ballet school is putting on a Christmas production of The Nutcracker
and Biff is desperate to land the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy. He wants the fluffiest tutu! He’s wants that special twinkly tiara!

But he doesn’t get the part. Instead, he has to wear a big itchy costume and do the Dance of the Bonbons.
Much despair and howling at the moon ensues. But if you know Biff, you’ll know he’s not one to stay beaten for long. Indeed, as he will quickly discover, it’s often when things don’t go to plan that the real magic begins!

My hope is that The Muttcracker will be a story that everyone can relate to because, well… we’ve all been there.

We all get knocked back.

We all howl at the moon. And, with a little bit oflove and friendship, we all find ways to see the funny side and keep on dancing anyway. As Dad tells Biff,