The Nutcracker Advent Calendar

Twenty-four miniature board books are nestled into 24 windows, numbered 1 through 24 and, like the peek-a-boo windows of an Advent calendar, are meant to be opened one-per-day from December 1 through Christmas Eve. Read in sequence, night after night, the full-colour four-page books and capture the magic of Marie's Christmas Eve adventures, from the entrance of the mysterious Herr Drosselmeyer (Book 6) to the Nutcracker's battle with the Mouse King ( Book 15), to a thrilling celebration at the palace of the Sugar Plum Fairy ( Book19). In addition, children can use the vividly illustrated books-with gold thread loops and four different trim sizes---to hang on the family Christmas tree.

Nan Brooks is a Chicago-based illustrator whose books include Make New Friends and Making Minestrone. Mary Packard is the coauthor of The Story of Christmas Story Book Set & Advent Calendar.