Published By: Macmillan Children’s Books
Pages: 176
Released On: 05/10/2023
Reading Age: 5-9 Years
The Mouse King is up to some very sneaky shenanigans.
The night before Christmas, he steals the key to the Kingdom of Sweets and sets out to cause as much festive mayhem as he can!
Clara and Fritz Strudel, and their new friend the Nutcracker, are the only ones who can stop him. But when a magical curse is put on Fritz, it’s a race against time to make it to the Kingdom of Sweets and find the Sugar Plum Fairy – the only one who can break the spell!
Can the adventurers stop the Mouse King’s naughty plan and save Fritz, before it’s too late?
With irresistible colour illustrations, a festively foiled cover and a chapter to enjoy each day in December, this gorgeous hardback is the perfect gift for any child at Christmas.
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I really love Alex’s books (even if they are generally aimed at people much younger than me). They feel like modern classics and the perfect addition to any child’s bookshelves this Christmas.
It is obviously very influences by the famous Nutcracker, which is one of the best Christmassy stories ever, and so by adapting it for this book, he’s brought the tale to a new generation.
His illustrations are absolutely gorgeous. Whilst any illustrator is good to have, by illustrating you own work, you can really get into them, and that’s what he’s done here. He can really link the images to his words and help bring it to life. Whilst I would never desecrate a book, I am so tempted to take the pages with illustrations out and frame them as they’re just so unbelievably beautiful and make my heart sing.
I received an early digital version and whilst it was very pretty indeed, I can’t wait to see the finished physical version, it’s going to be beautiful.
It has 24 1/2 chapters, made so you read one chapter a day in December, like an advent calendar, finishing with the half chapter on Christmas Day night. Which is a fabulous way of writing it to appeal to a child’s excitement. I must admit, I read it in one go, as I couldn’t make myself wait after each chapter. I don’t have that willpower. But you can read it either way and it’s still as magical.
I admit, I haven’t read The Nutcracker for many years, but this definitely put me on the mood to revisit it. But because of this, I cannot remember if everything is the same in this book, such as the characters’ names. But I am going to assume that they aren’t, because I want to praise Alex for creating the likes of Mr and Professor Strudel, the Sachertortes, Monsieur and Madame Chocolat-Chaud, Signora Panettone, Queen Victoria Sponge, Princess Ricotta, Humphrey Walnut, Anastasia Stroopwafel – to name a few. So simple but marvellously effective. I’m not sure if young children would get the humour, but they should appreciate the wonderful names all the same.
Within a handful of pages I could feel myself smiling. It was just so lovely and cosy, warming, beautiful, and nostalgic.
I read it in one sitting. It was so magical to lose myself in. Quick and easy for a child – or an adult. It really offers a childhood look at Christmas and about the importance of magic, friendship, family and kindness at Christmas.
Books By Your Bedside 