It's Christmas eve and Marie and her family are enjoying the seasonal festivities. Drosselmeyer, the clockmaker and inventor, presents them with a nutcracker which Marie becomes very taken with. At the stroke of twelve that night the nutcracker comes alive before Marie's very eyes, and so begins the most wonderful adventure... Join Marie and her dear nutcracker on a journey through the mystical land of the Mouse King and Princess Pirlipat, with themes of magic, love, betrayal and redemption, beautifully captured by Robet Ingpen's exquisite illustrations.