Illustrated by Joanna Isles
When Clara unwraps her Christmas present from Herr Dosselmyer, her godfather and the inventor of magical toys, she is thrilled to discover a Nutcracker doll. However, Clara does not realise that this is no ordinary doll and when she saves the wounded toy from the wicked Mouse King, she watches in amazement as her Nutcracker turns into a handsome prince in a puff of smoke.
Imaginative illustrations, each perfectly framed by an intricate and colourful border, capture perfectly the magical scenes of this fairy tale: the colourful nursery toys who come to life to protect Clara from the terrifying mice, and the sparkling Winter Kingdom where the Nutcracker takes Clara when he is freed from the spell. There they watch a fantastic parade of characters, including leaping cossacks and the Sugar Plum Fairy, dance for their entertainment in the perfect dream for Christmas Eve.
