Story Orchestra: The Nutcracker

A beautiful retelling of this favorite Christmas story. Follow Clara into a Christmas dream, set to the sound of Tchaikovsky's original music.

The Story Orchestra: The Nutcracker retells the ballet as an illustrated musical story book. Begin at Clara’s Christmas Eve party, meet her special nutcracker and journey through a battle with the Mouse King to the Land of Sweets. As you and your little one journey through the magical scenes, you will press the buttons to hear 10 excerpts from the ballet's music. At the back of the book, find a short biography of the composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, with details about his composition of The Nutcracker ballet. And a glossary defines musical terms. 

Jessica Courtney-Tickle’s illustrations invite children to look closely while the music adds another part of the story. Share it at Christmas or revisit the scenes after a trip to see the ballet.

- Ten musical excerpts: includes Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Waltz of the Flowers, Russian Dance and the Finale.
- Simple sound buttons: press to hear 10-second orchestral clips.
- Explore the composer: includes a short biography of Tchaikovsky and notes on the music.
- Learn as you listen: a child-friendly glossary explains musical terms.

For families choosing interactive musical books or music education gifts, this musical Christmas book offers a way to share a favourite ballet and discover the sounds behind its story.

As you and your little one journey through the magical scenes, you will press the buttons to hear 10 excerpts from the ballet's music. At the back of the book, find a short biography of the composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, with details about his composition of The Nutcracker ballet. Next to this, you can replay the musical excerpts and, for each of them, read a discussion of the instruments, rhythms and musical techniques that make them so powerful. A glossary defines musical terms.

The Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for children through gorgeously illustrated retellings of classic ballet stories paired with 10-second sound clips of orchestras playing from their musical scores.