And then the most glorious adventure begins. Attacked by a ragtag band of rats, the nutcracker comes alive and musters up his toy soldiers. Fighting bravely against the invading rodent hordes, Captain Krak defeats the Rat King and captures his crown. To celebrate, he takes Clara on a voyage to the magical Land of Sweets.

Based on Tchaikovsky's popular ballet, this is an enchanting retelling of the classic story. Nicki Palin's highly stylized illustrations, reminiscent of Norman Rockwell's art, create a wonderful, magical world. This is the ideal gift for the millions of children who see theatrical productions of The Nutcracker every year at Christmastime.