A Child's Introduction to the Nutcracker The Story, Music, Costumes, and Choreography of the Fairy Tale Ballet

Ballet enthusiasts of all ages will delight in the magical story of The Nutcracker and the magnificent ballet it inspired in this enchanted book packed with colorful illustrations, fun facts, history, music, and the love of dance.

Whether The Nutcracker is your first ballet experience or you’re already a master dancer, everything you love and want to know about this special, sugar-spun, snow-dusted ballet can be found in these delightful pages. Follow The Nutcracker as it makes its way from page to stage to become the world’s most popular holiday ballet. Learn all about the dazzling steps, spins, and jumps choreographed by Petipa, Ivanov, and Balanchine, and meet the famed composer Tchaikovsky. Special sections highlight some of the most famous dancers and companies that have brought the performance and the magic of this ballet to life.

Packed with charming illustrations showcasing the beautiful costumes and lavish sets, plus removable poster for you to color, A Child’s Introduction to the Nutcracker lets you to enjoy this magical ballet all year round! 

Heather Alexander has written numerous books for children, including previous titles in this series: A Child’s Introduction to Art, A Child’s Introduction to Greek Mythology, A Child’s Introduction to Egyptology, A Child’s Introduction to Norse Mythology, A Child’s Introduction to the World, and A Child’s Introduction to Natural History. She lives in Los Angeles, California.

Amélie Videlo is a French artist, born in Paris to a Chinese family during the Year of the Rat. While growing up, she lived for many years in the Republic of Mauritius. Later, after graduating from France's Penninghen School of Art Direction, she worked as a graphic designer before becoming an illustrator. She now lives in the British countryside with her partner and her cat, Chichi.