The Nutcracker

A joyously silly retelling of The Nutcracker . . . Bright, boisterous and sweetshop-colourful, with just the right amount of bum jokes, it’s perfect for sharing with 5+ kids in the run-up to Christmas. * Guardian *
Beautifully imaginative, we love the idea of counting down to Christmas by reading a new chapter of this tale every night. It’s incredibly funny, filled with silly names and scenarios, and has heaps of holiday magic. From the bestselling author of festive favourites like The Grumpus and How Winston Delivered Christmas, this book is a gloriously fun retelling of children’s Christmas classic The Nutcracker. * The Independent *
Familiar characters dance into new life in this lavish hardback. -- Marianne Levy * inews, The 20 best children’s books for Christmas 2023 *
Make a new festive family tradition this year and read a chapter a night of Alex T Smith's absolutely adorable Advent book and enjoy the gorgeous artwork and Christmassy activities. -- Justine Carbery * Independent.ie on How Winston Came Home for Christmas *
Utterly gorgeous stuff. -- Fiona Noble * The Bookseller on How Winston Delivered Christmas *
This delightful reimagining of The Nutcracker is told in 24-and-a-half chapters, making it the perfect Advent read -- Joanne Finney * Good Housekeeping *
Alex T. Smith delivers another fabulous, illustrated Christmas story. It's great fun and the illustrations sparkle. * Books for Keeps on The Grumpus *
With a brilliantly exuberant story featuring jokes galore and madcap magic, an unforgettable cast of hilarious characters, Smith’s bold and colourful illustrations, a festively foiled cover, a chapter to enjoy each day in December, and all lovingly wrapped in the author’s natural warmth, this wonderful book is destined to become a family favourite in the run-up to Christmas. * Lancashire Evening Post *
Alex T. Smith reserves himself prime place beneath the tree again this year. Following How Winston Delivered Christmas and its sequel, and The Grumpus, this year he delights us with an inventive, gorgeously illustrated retelling of The Nutcracker in The Nutcracker and the Mouse King’s Christmas Shenanigans. The Mouse King, self-styled ‘the Great Gorgonzola’, has plans – of course – to disrupt Christmas, and it falls to young Clara and Fritz Strudel, plus their new friend Walter the Nutcracker to stop him, the stakes being raised considerably when Fritz is turned into a mouse. In 24 ½ chapters it’s designed to be read Advent-calendar-like, one chapter a day, though it will be hard to resist calls for ‘just one more’... * Books for Keeps *
This cracking variation on the classic Nutcracker story is written in 24-and-half chapters, like an advent calendar, as the Mouse King’s Shenanigans threaten to ruin the Big Day. Can Clara and Fritz find the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Kingdom of Sweets in time to break the spell? Bursting with energy, it’s riotous. * Daily Mail *