The Nutcracker and the Mouse King: A Timeless Tale of Courage, Kindness, and Christmas Magic

by E.T.A. Hoffmann, Alexander Nemirov (translator)

On Christmas Eve, young Marie receives an unusual gift—a wooden Nutcracker with a kind smile and a mysterious past. But when the clock strikes midnight, her world transforms into something extraordinary.

Mice with crowns march across the floor. Toys spring to life. And Marie finds herself at the center of an ancient battle between the Nutcracker and the terrible Mouse King.

To save her friend, Marie must be braver than she ever imagined. Her journey will take her through enchanted forests, across shimmering lakes, and into a kingdom made entirely of sweets—where nothing is quite as it seems, and where true love has the power to break even the darkest curse.

Based on E.T.A. Hoffmann's beloved classic, this beautifully illustrated adaptation brings the magic of The Nutcracker to life for a new generation of readers. Perfect for reading aloud on cozy winter nights, or discovering alone by the glow of the Christmas tree.

103 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2024

About the author

Ernst Theodor Wilhelm Hoffmann, better known by his pen name E. T. A. Hoffmann (Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann), was a German Romantic author of fantasy and horror, a jurist, composer, music critic, draftsman and caricaturist. His stories form the basis of Jacques Offenbach's famous opera The Tales of Hoffmann, in which Hoffman appears (heavily fictionalized) as the hero. He is also the author of the novella The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, on which the famous ballet The Nutcracker is based. The ballet Coppélia is based on two other stories that Hoffmann wrote, while Schumann's Kreisleriana is based on Hoffmann's character Johannes Kreisler.

Hoffmann's stories were very influential during the 19th century, and he is one of the major authors of the Romantic movement.