The Nutcracker

What if your nutcracker came to life at midnight... and needed you to save him?

On Christmas Eve, ten-year-old Clara receives a strange gift from her mysterious godfather: a wooden nutcracker with a crooked grin. When the clock strikes twelve, the Christmas tree begins to grow, toy soldiers march out of the toy chest, and the Mouse King rises through the floorboards with his army. Clara must find the courage to stand her ground. If she does, a journey awaits her through the Forest of Snow to the glittering Land of Sweets.

The Nutcracker: A Magical Christmas Ballet Story retells the beloved ballet as a real adventure for readers ages 8-12. It is written in clear, lively language, with dialogue, suspense, and heart, and it has a brave heroine children can relate to.

Designed for Advent: 24 short chapters, one to read each evening from December 1 to Christmas Eve. Every chapter ends at just the right moment to make tomorrow worth waiting for.

Inside you'll find:

• 32 full-page black-and-white illustrations throughout the story
• "Before the Curtain Rises", a short, kid-friendly introduction to E.T.A. Hoffmann, Tchaikovsky, and how a story became the world's favorite Christmas ballet
• "Did You Know?" boxes with real facts about the ballet, the music, and the original tale
• Listen Along, a guide matching each chapter to a piece of Tchaikovsky's music
• Ballet Words, a simple glossary from pointe to pas de deux
• From Story to Stage, a timeline from 1816 to today
• Meet the Characters, a quick guide to who's who

Perfect for family read-alouds, independent readers, young ballet fans, and anyone getting ready to see The Nutcracker for the first time.

Make this Christmas magical. Add The Nutcracker to your cart and start the countdown with Clara tonight.