The Nutcracker has enthralled children for more than a century. As the lights go down and the curtain is raised to reveal a perfect Christmas scene, every child can see at last what really happens when the house is asleep and the toys come alive. David Freeman retells the story of Clara, the brave little girl who saves the wounded Nutcracker doll from the wicked Mouse King, while Joanna Isles' vibrant characters dance across the page, with every scene exquisitely framed in an elaborate border. A jewel of a book that children will treasure.