Mary Engelbreit's Nutcracker - (Hardcover)

About the Book

In this retelling of the original 1816 German story, a nutcracker under a terrible spell is given to young Marie as a Christmas gift, and when she helps him defeat the Mouse King, breaking the spell, he takes her to visit kingdom.

Book Synopsis

Mary Engelbreit's delightful interpretation of the timeless Christmas story makes this Nutcracker truly beautiful to behold.

Marie, the Nutcracker Prince, and the Sugar Plum Fairy will enchant readers in this freshly imagined holiday classic by New York Times bestseller Mary Engelbreit, now in paper-over-board format for the first time.

On Christmas Eve, Marie receives a wooden nutcracker from her beloved uncle. Then something magical happens . . . her toy nutcracker transforms into a handsome prince and whisks Marie off to the fantastical Toyland on a winter adventure she'll never forget.

From the Back Cover

It is the night before Christmas!

When Marie receives a handsome wooden Nutcracker from her dear uncle, she's thrilled. But under the richly decorated tree that night, something magical happens . . . and when her toy Nutcracker transforms into a handsome Prince, Marie is whisked off to Toyland for a winter adventure she'll never forget!

The Nutcracker is one of the world's favorite holiday stories, and Mary Engelbreit offers her vision of that joyful night, creating a picture book filled with movement and vibrant detail that even the youngest child will enjoy.

Review Quotes

Engelbreit extends her collection of traditional children's stories with this retelling of the Christmas classic, which blends well with the artist's signature style of highly ornamented illustrations bursting with bows, candies and fantasy flowers, along with charming, smiling characters. Engelbreit's many fans will find this a garden of Christmas delights. - Kirkus Reviews
Sweetness abounds in Engelbreit's condensed version of this holiday tale, modeled on E.T.A. Hoffmann's 1816 story THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING. Featuring candy cane borders and an array of confections, the author's signature vivid, pictures give the story a setting evocative of the 1920s. Engelbreit fans will devour this eagerly. - Publishers Weekly
The retelling is faithful to Hoffman's classic story, and the illustrations are in Engelbreit's familiar colorful, rounded, sentimental style. - School Library Journal