The Story of the Nutcracker Ballet

by Deborah Hautzig

Give the gift of one of the most beloved holiday stories of all-time, the Nutcracker!Featuring glorious illustrations by Caldecott Honor-winner, Diane Goode, this beautiful and adventurous classic tale will dance its way into your family's holiday traditions for years to come.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday, Fiction, Classics, Fantasy

Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Loretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slightly better children's version of the original.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute picture book version of the Nutcracker, definitely left out the creepy stuff.

[Sarah Main · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a little jarring that her name is actually Marie. I’ll probably still say Clara when I read it to my kids, though.

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book tells the story of the famous ballet and is a good one to share with young readers as a way to enhance the music and stage performance. It's kind of a dry story to share on its own, but I have shared it with children as preparation for attending the ballet performance as a field trip. You might also share it along with recordings of the music or videos of the ballet.

[Mortisha Cassavetes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Nutcracker Ballet story with beautiful illustrations. The book follows the ballet but adds a few Winter and Christmas additions. I loved it! I highly recommend this book and the ballet for kids of all ages especially during the holiday season.

[The Campbell Family · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very simplistic, but rich overview of the Nutcracker Ballet. We are going to see it tonight so this was timely and fitting!

[Hemavathy DM Suppiah-Devi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book a (second-hand copy) at a charity sale last year, and what a find! Simply lovely picture book of my favourite Christmas ballet. And perfect for Christmas eve. 🎄

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always loved The Nutcracker! I grew up watching the Barbie animated movie version as a kid, and while I know that is not very true to the original I'm sure, I loved the beautiful scenes in that movie.

This is a very simple retelling that is perfect for young kids to introduce them to the magic of this story. The illustrations are huge and very colorful and convey the beauty of the Land of Sweets, Sugar Plum Fairy, and snow fairies. I recommend reading this book to young kids around Christmas time, but be sure to also play the music in the background, or show them Lindsey Stirling's music video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RkSy...

(I know a shameless plug for one of my favorite artists and a wonderful holiday album to listen to.)

[Belinda Vlasbaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars - English Ebook

Just enough. Beautiful enough. In a setting time in the year.The pictures are great, it is written very well and is true to the original storyline.

We used it for holiday activities and it was the perfect length to keep everyone’s attention.

Nikki - school for Gifted children, Venlo The Netherlands

[Charlotte S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite versions of The Nutcracker. The illustrations really make it come to life, and it's just super cute! It tells the story of the classic Nutcracker ballet wonderfully!

Follow @bronteandwilder on Instagram for fun book recommendations!

[Cecilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used to love this book when I was very little!

[Amara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story ends as a dream without Nutcracker coming to her in real life. LAME.

Also, swans pull their sleigh, not reindeer. She isn't freaking Santa.

[E · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read at the Doctors Office

[Mae · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Lucca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great books for our 6yo. We read it before taking her to see the ballet.

[Kourtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still one my favorites

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this covers the story quite well. One year we will have to watch it too.

[Monique the Book Geek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read Aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APH8Y...

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book with nice illustrations.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this rendition of the nutcracker. I had this book on CD (lol) when I was a kid and it was so nostalgic to be able to listen to the words and music that meant so much to me growing up.

[Kate Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great intro to the story for kids, especially if they’re going to see the ballet.

[Fiona Ameneyro · Rating 5 out of 5]

We had this book when I was a child and the pictures are full of nostalgia.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a child, I dreamed of becoming a dancer when I grew up, so I was understandably obsessed with The Nutcracker. It even made me convince my mom to buy me a nutcracker doll. I was very disappointed that it didn't turn into a real prince and take me to the Sugar Plum Forest.
The music is iconic and wonderful, of course, and the story is magical, and beautifully told (this was a book and tape set), with lovely, colorful illustrations. One of my favorite all time stories.

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A total biased review based on my childhood love for this book:
In the little town I grew up in, every Christmas the second grade class got a special field trip to the Nutcracker ballet. It was something that, my second grade year, I looked forward to SO much! The day came and I remember my mom had bought me a beautiful black crushed velvet dress to wear. Suddenly, I was itching and covered in red dots; chicken pox! It was terrible and I was unbelievably sad to have missed out on that evening with my friends.
Now, here is where my memory fails me, but I think that our good family friend, known affectionally as KK, offered to take me when I got well. I think that the Sunday after I got well from the dreadful pox, I wore my fancy new dress to church and after the services, KK took me to Lubbock, TX, and we saw the Nutcracker. It was the perfect magical experience that I had so hoped for!
Keeping that special event in mind, this book was given to me by KK and I loved it! I recently found it in a stack of books my mom gave me and in reading it to my boys I had a very nice walk down memory lane. I love the story, the pictures and the music that I hear in my head while I read it.

[JD Waggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I freaking love the Nutcracker ballet, and I was absolutely among the legions of 6-year-old girls who were totally convinced we were going to become prima ballerinas and dance with the Nutcracker and life would be oh so beautiful, thank you.
Ballet didn't happen, of course, but I still love The Nutcracker, and this was a book that I used to read to myself in the parts of the year that weren't Christmas. Reading it now it seems a little...well, kind of rambling, as if it's having a hard time getting all of the story into a kid-friendly compact edition. Also, some of the illustrations are actually a little freaky, not in a Picasso kind of way, but just in a whoa-Drosselmeier-would-give-me-nightmares kind of way--which is right on for some productions, but not something I would be super excited to cause in my kids.
So, yes, this is a good storyline for introducing kids, but if you're looking for a Nutcracker fix, just track down one of the DVD versions.

[Michelle Adamo #EmptyNestReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Story of the Nutcracker Ballet is the perfect introduction to the Nutcracker ballet for young children. The book offers a simple format and simple text through which to tell the basic, magical, story and is laid out for young readers and listeners) to understand and enjoy. Beautiful illustrations provided by Caldecott Honor Book artist, Diane Goode, enhance ones enjoyment of this book.

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[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to introduce my daughter to the story of the Nutcracker because it is something I love about Christmas. I was even going to take her to the ballet and thought this would be a good way to lead up to it. This is a very simplified look at the story of the Nutcracker ballet. Parts are a little wordy for a preschooler and there's a lot of explaining what is going on in the different illustrations with the mouse king, etc.

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute, short version of the story of the Nutcracker. An absolute must before taking a young person to see the ballet, as this will help them know the story so they will enjoy the performance more.

[Marita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not really into the Nutcracker thing, but this is must know tradition of Christmas. I do love the music that goes with the ballet!

[Lauren Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Story of the Nutcracker Ballet is a beautiful, classic book about the story everybody knows. The book has beautiful pictures carry the text along and make the story come to life.