The Nutcracker: Classic Collectible Pop-Up

In their lavish adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffmann's original story about the cursed nutcracker that comes to life on Christmas, paper engineer artists David and Noelle Carter create a marvelously theatrical setting that will have young readers shouting "bravo" in wonder and smitten delight. In the classic multilayered tale, the ugly wooden nutcracker fights a fierce battle with the evil seven-headed mouse king, then takes young Marie, the girl who was kind to him when he was broken, on a magical tour of Christmas Wood and Candytown. By earning Marie's love, the spell over the nutcracker is broken--he turns back into a prince and marries Marie.

Every child should experience the holiday tradition of The Nutcracker; for those who are too squirmy to sit through an entire production of Tchaikovsky's ballet, The Nutcracker Suite, this elaborate pop-up is a gratifying, three-dimensional introduction to the fanciful holiday story. David Carter is a master of pop-up art, as evidenced in The 12 Bugs of Christmas, Jingle Bugs, Giggle Bugs, and his many other extraordinary books. (Ages 4 to 7) --Emilie Coulter