Thank you Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for e-ARC of the book.

My First Story Orchestra series are wonderful books, with amazing short sound clips that help young readers to get to know classical music while following an amazing story.

A beautiful introduction to this beloved classic! Clear and concise, filled with vibrant and expressive illustrations, young readers will be enchanted with this story. The iconic music is certain to inspire and will provide many hours of enjoyment. This will be a book children want to listen to again and again. Highly recommended and perfect for the holiday season!

Well obviously the music is the main thing about this book and the entire series and it's a great way to introduce the little ones to classical music. However... I still feel like it lacked story wise - the story is oversimplified and it's a shame. Either commit to the illustrations (which were great) and the music and let them do the talking, either try better with the written words too.

It’s my first “My First Story Orchestra” children’s book and of course it was “The Nutcracker”!! The nutcracker has been my favorite ballet since being introduced to it years ago and have loved the story line since childhood. So seeing that it’s being simplified via beautiful illustrations to introduce young children to learn and understand it is unremarkable. Its storyline is shortened which I think is the only negative that I can say, but at the same time it’s for young children to understand and enjoy most so maybe not a con.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jessica Courtney-Tickle and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books for providing this AMAZING ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own, and I do not accept money for any reviews.

This is a quick, simple way to introduce young children to the Nutcracker. The illustrations in this book are beautiful. There is so much to look at and enjoy on each page. The text is short and simple. I do wish the text flowed a bit better and was more engaging. Still a fun way to learn about the Nutcracker at a young age!

How BEAUTIFUL are the illustrations throughout this delightful board book?! I can’t wait to read a finished edition with all the music to bring it to life!

I am a huge fan of The Story Orchestra series and was so excited to discover My First Story Orchestra. This is the perfect introduction to the series for smaller readers and music loving little ones. This much more stripped back edition of The Nutcracker makes for a wonderful Christmas gift for the little readers in your life!

‘My First Story Orchestra: The Nutcracker’ by Jessica Courtney-Tickle presents a simplified version of the beloved holiday classic. Aimed at very young children, the book strives to introduce them to the enchanting world of The Nutcracker ballet through a basic narrative and musical elements. However, its brevity and simplicity might leave some readers wanting a richer experience.

Plot: ★★★☆☆

The plot is very simplified, offering only a basic overview of The Nutcracker story. It touches on the main events but lacks the depth and nuance of the full ballet, making it more of an introduction than a comprehensive retelling.

Character: ★★★☆☆

The characters are depicted in a straightforward manner suitable for young readers. While they are recognizable and cute, the book does not delve deeply into their personalities or the complexities of their roles in the ballet.

Illustrations: ★★★★☆

The illustrations are stunning, capturing the magical and festive spirit of The Nutcracker. The artwork adds a layer of charm and visual appeal that enhances the book, even if the story itself is quite basic.

Engagement: ★★★☆☆

Engagement may be moderate. While the book’s illustrations and music can be captivating for young children, the simplified plot and character depiction might not hold their attention for extended periods, especially if they are familiar with more detailed versions of the story.

Readability: ★★★☆☆

The readability is appropriate for very young children, with simple text and clear narrative structure. However, the minimal depth of the story might not be as engaging for older toddlers who could benefit from a more detailed exploration of The Nutcracker.

Enjoyment: ★★★☆☆

The book is likely to be enjoyable for babies and young toddlers who are beginning to explore stories and music. While it offers a basic introduction to The Nutcracker, other resources might provide a more comprehensive and engaging experience for those interested in a deeper understanding of the ballet.


‘My First Story Orchestra: The Nutcracker’ by Jessica Courtney-Tickle offers a visually appealing and simplified introduction to the classic ballet. While the illustrations are captivating and the book is well-suited for very young children, the simplified plot and character portrayal may not fully satisfy those seeking a more detailed exploration of The Nutcracker. For a richer experience, other adaptations might be more suitable.

I love the concept of this book! I wish my daughter was young enough to enjoy this, she's probably a little too old now. But for young children (0-2), this is an excellent addition to a book collection - especially for a holiday book. Any book that played music/sounds was a big hit in our house and honestly, the fact that these are orchestra clips of music from the Nutcracker is awesome and brings the added benefit of introducing orchestral music at a very young age.

The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous. They're so vibrant and colorful - with plenty of characters and colors for young children to absorb. Also, the text on each page was simple and sweet - and seemed very age appropriate to correspond with the music clips that would play with each scene. Overall a great book for young kids - thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC for me to read and review.

I loved this! The Nutcracker is my all time favorite Christmas story/movie/play so as soon as I saw I could ask for this book I did. It was very short but the artistry was beautiful! I think this is a great book to introduce this story/play to kids! Very simple but wonderful story!

I really appreciate the concept of this book to introduce The Nutcracker and music the babies and toddlers. Of course with the ARC provided I could not experience the music aspect so I cannot speak to that element for the review. The illustrations were very detailed and beautiful. The text was very simple and the story was very short so it really is aimed to be used with very young children. I can definitely see myself purchasing this book when I have children as I go to see The Nutcracker ballet every year.

A simple and direct storytelling book gives a great introduction to the story of the nutcracker for littles. The illustrations are colorful and fit the theme of the classic story.

Thank you to Quarto Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

My First Story Orchestra: The Nutcracker by Jessica Courtney-Tickle is a lovely picture book that would be the perfect gift for the child in your life. I have seen versions of the Nutcracker before, but I have definitely not seen it told in such a cute way that is appropriate for toddlers and younger children. The story revolves around Clara as she enters the world of the Nutcracker. What differentiates this book from others is that on each page, toddlers are supposed to be able to press buttons and hear clips of songs from the play as performed by an actual orchestra.

Overall, My First Story Orchestra: The Nutcracker is an adorable picture book that will bring entertainment to children of all ages. One highlight of this book are the fantastic and cute character designs. I loved seeing all of the different characters from this famous play. If I had to complain about 1 thing, I would say that it wasn't possible for me to listen to the music that is the special feature on this book. I'm sure that when readers buy this book for real though, you will be able to listen to the music. If you're intrigued by the synopsis, or if you're a fan of children's picture books in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in October!

This title is part of a series that introduces the very youngest readers/listeners to some of the great ballets. This time, the ballet is that childhood favorite, The Nutcracker. The story is short and simply told, the illustrations are engaging and, in the hard copy, there are excerpts from the music. All of these aspects make this book one to add to a little one’s library.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

This book was great for my 2 and 5 year old! They really enjoyed the illustrations. It was just enough to text to get the main points of the story without being too long. Unfortunately, I cannot speak to the music until the book but thing that would be a great addition and make it even more interactive for kids!

This book was short and perfect for young babies. The illustrations were beautiful and would hold the attention of young kids.

Thank you so much to Quarto Kids / Francis Lincoln and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

I always love the story of the nutcracker and it’s my favourite ballet, I loved the concept with this story that it plays 10 seconds of music for each page as you read and look at it with your child you hear the gorgeous music.

The illustrations were so adorable to look at I loved seeing the sugar plum land with everyone dancing so beautifully. These are going to be loved by families as they will have a great time looking at these beautiful illustrations.

I do wish that more of the story was told, I understand it’s for little ones so it’s kept short, but I felt like so much of the story had been cut off, parts that are really integral to understanding what’s going on, which is a shame they get cut with how beautiful it is.

As someone who adores the nutcracker ballet, this book is the perfect retelling of the story. It’s written in a way that a child can understand the different parts of the story in general terms. It can be paired with the actual performance to further explain what’s happening.

The illustrations are also so cute, in a style that gives the story its justice. The colours and whimsical style makes the illustrations feel so real, like they’re gonna come out of the page. My little cousins loved it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This short board book is an ideal way to explain the story of The Nutcracker to very young children. The beautiful illustrations and straightforward narration bring this classic story to life and would be an excellent way to help prepare a child for their first performance of this Christmas staple.

I look forward to experiencing a physical copy of this book to hear the included music clips.

This is a board book with six sounds. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, and it gives readers that magical-Christmas feeling!

I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Very cute, very simple version of the Nutcracker Ballet story. Perfect for infants and young toddlers. I wish I could see how the music adds to the book. Overall, a very cute idea with good illustrations.