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The Story Orchestra: The Nutcracker: Press the note to hear Tchaikovsky's music (Volume 2) (The Story Orchestra, 2) Hardcover – Sound Book, October 5, 2017

by Katy Flint (Adapter), Jessica Courtney-Tickle (Illustrator)
4.8 out of 5 stars 2,871 ratings
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Follow Clara on a magical Christmas adventure in this musical retelling of The Nutcracker ballet—push the button on each beautiful scene to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing from Tchaikovsky’s score.

It is Christmas Eve at Clara’s house. Scents of ginger, chocolate, and peppermint waft through the air. Clara’s parents are having a party, and her little brother Fritz is decorating the Christmas tree. Clara’s godfather, a toymaker, arrives with gifts, including a very special one for her—a wooden nutcracker carved in the shape of a little man. After Fritz breaks it, the children are sent to bed.

The story follows Clara in her dreams as she battles and defeats a mouse king, then travels with her nutcracker-turned-prince to the Land of Sweets where she watches its enchanting inhabitants perform beautiful dances. As you and your little one journey through the magical scenes, you will press the buttons to hear 10 excerpts from the ballet’s music, including “The Waltz of the Flowers,” “The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” “The Russian Dance,” and the awesome “Finale.”

Readers should press firmly on the pages to activate the sound board at the back of the book, encouraging interactive learning and introducing children to this beautiful piece of music.

At the back of the book, find a short biography of the composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, with details about his composition of The Nutcracker ballet. Next to this, you can replay the musical excerpts and, for each of them, read a discussion of the instruments, rhythms, and musical techniques that make them so powerful. A glossary defines musical terms.

The Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for children through gorgeously illustrated retellings of classic ballet, opera, and program music stories paired with 10-second sound clips of orchestras playing from their musical scores. With The Story Orchestra keyboard sound books, children can play the famous melodies themselves with the sound of a real grand piano.
 
Also available from the Story Orchestra series: The Magic Flute, I Can Play (vol 1), Carnival of the Animals, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and Four Seasons in One Day.

Manufacturer’s note: please pull the white tab out of the back of the book before use. Sound buttons require a firm push in exact location to work, which may be hard for young children. All sound clips are 10 seconds long.

The perfect primer to introduce children to classical music.
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  1. Reading age
    2 - 5 years, from customers
  2. Part of series
    The Story Orchestra
  3. Print length
    24 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Grade level
    1 - 4
  6. Dimensions
    10.75 x 0.63 x 12.38 inches
  7. Publisher
    Frances Lincoln Children's Books
  8. Publication date
    October 5, 2017
  9. ISBN-10
    1786030683
  10. ISBN-13
    978-1786030689
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The Story Orchestra: The Nutcracker: Press the note to hear Tchaikovsky's music (Volume 2) (The Story Orchestra, 2)
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The Story Orchestra: Swan Lake: Press the note to hear Tchaikovsky's music (Volume 4) (The Story Orchestra, 4)
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The Story Orchestra: Carnival of the Animals: Press the note to hear Saint-Saëns' music (Volume 5) (The Story Orchestra, 5)
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 1–4—Clearly meant to introduce the ballet based on Hoffmann's classic story, this inviting adaptation instructs readers to press a musical note on each page in order to hear an enlivening snippet of Tchaikovsky's music. While Clara impatiently awaits the arrival of her toymaker godfather, guests of varying ages and ethnicities, attired in 19th-century styles, are enjoying the festive Christmas party hosted by her parents. The vibrant illustrations are in a polished cartoon style reminiscent of early animated Disney films, with the text attractively set apart from the richly detailed visuals, encircled by colorful shapes, flowers, or wreath-like designs. Clara's fantastical dreams never seem too busy or overcrowded, and are, again, populated with diverse figures. Back matter includes a brief overview of Tchaikovsky and a glossary of musical terms. Buttons for the 10 selections used throughout are together on the final page, along with orchestral information. Readers are encouraged to let the music inspire their own theatrical creativity. VERDICT Any disruption to the perceived tranquility of the library atmosphere due to the audio component of this book will be offset by the information gleaned and the jump-start it provides to the imagination of its readers.—Linda Israelson, Los Angeles Public Library

Review

'a clever way to show the way music and narrative combine and Courtney-Tickle’s illustrations are fittingly festive.' ―Achuka

'The Nutcracker has got to be the best way to introduce children to the joys of ballet - and this sound book will really capture their attention.'
 ―Parents in Touch

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Frances Lincoln Children's Books; Ina edition (October 5, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 24 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1786030683
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1786030689
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 2 - 5 years, from customers
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 1 - 4
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10.75 x 0.63 x 12.38 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 2,871 ratings

About the author

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Jessica Courtney-Tickle

Jessica Courtney-Tickle

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Jessica Courtney-Tickle is an illustrator based in Cambridge, England. She studied Illustration and Animation at Kingston University, London graduating in 2014. Jessica spends most of her time drawing for children's books, she also sells her paintings at fairs and markets across the UK.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
2,871 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers love this children's book for its gorgeous illustrations and beautiful sound quality, making it a wonderful way to introduce children to classical music. The story is well-written and condensed, and customers find it entertaining for hours, with one mentioning it's perfect for bedtime reading. While many children enjoy pressing the buttons, some find them difficult to operate, and the book's large size is appreciated. Customers consider it a perfect gift.

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135 customers mention "Music quality"103 positive32 negative

Customers appreciate the music quality of the book, which includes snippets of orchestra music and beautiful sound quality, making it suitable for children's development.

"...My kids love these books! They never grow tired of them. The sound quality is fantastic and illustrations are beautiful...." Read more

"...is a beautiful book and a great introduction to the story and music of the ballet." Read more

"Great book with lovely illustrations and the music is amazing. My granddaughters love it!" Read more

"...Just long enough to recognize the movement, but not long enough to enjoy listening to...." Read more

132 customers mention "Visual quality"132 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the gorgeous illustrations in the book, with one customer specifically noting how the pictures demonstrate instruments being played.

"...The illustrations are lovely and I like that the battery is on the back and had the strip that prevents playing prior to the purchaser pulling it...." Read more

"...The sound quality is fantastic and illustrations are beautiful. My 2 and 4 year old both enjoy these books nutcracker." Read more

"...These books are beautiful and make great gifts." Read more

"...It is a beautiful book and a great introduction to the story and music of the ballet." Read more

63 customers mention "Book for kids"60 positive3 negative

Customers find this book wonderful for introducing children to musical classics and ballet, making it a favorite for both young and old readers.

"...The storyline is a bit beyond her, but the basics interest her for now. The music is great but I wish there were more than 10 seconds of songs." Read more

"...She loves playing familiar songs and dancing to them in her room, and it provides a quick snapshot of the story with music...." Read more

"...They loved it! Love pushing the buttons and loved learning about the music and instruments. They are dancers, so they have seen the ballet." Read more

"...The illustrations are beautiful, and there are so many things to look at on each page!..." Read more

49 customers mention "Story quality"45 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, finding it well written and condensed enough to be suitable for children.

"...Great way to anticipate and celebrate Christmas and traditions, I love it!" Read more

"Huge fan of the story orchestra books! My kids love these books! They never grow tired of them...." Read more

"...It is a beautiful book and a great introduction to the story and music of the ballet." Read more

"...sturdy, the music is beautiful, the artwork is fabulous, and the story is simple and sweet. I can't wait to get more Story Orchestra books." Read more

30 customers mention "Kids love book"30 positive0 negative

Customers say their children enjoy this book, finding it entertaining for hours.

"...My kids love these books! They never grow tired of them. The sound quality is fantastic and illustrations are beautiful...." Read more

"This is such a great book series. We have two of them and my kids love them...." Read more

"The children loved it We read it before and after seeing the Ballet" Read more

"Gorgeous illustrations, and so special and fun that it plays clips of the ballet music on each page...." Read more

14 customers mention "Gift value"10 positive4 negative

Customers find the book makes a perfect gift.

"...These books are beautiful and make great gifts." Read more

"A beautiful and cherished gift. Fabric bound with gold embellishments. You will be the talk on the party if you bring this. It is keepsake quality...." Read more

"...Not for very young children, they could easily rip the thinner pages. Overall I’m happy with the purchase...." Read more

"Great gift for young ones. Beautiful and music has surprisingly nice sound." Read more

9 customers mention "Book length"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's size, with one mentioning it has quite a few pages.

"...The music clips are short enough to keep interest of but long enough to recognize...." Read more

"...This is legit. The book is large, beautiful and covers the whole story...." Read more

"...The book is oversized and the illustrations are absolutely beautiful. The hardcover book spine is durable and very nice material...." Read more

"...entire nutcracker ballet and understand the story, but this book is short, simple, and engages him with the buttons to press to listen to the music..." Read more

63 customers mention "Buttons difficulty to press"20 positive43 negative

Customers have mixed experiences with the buttons in the book: some love pressing them to play songs, while others report that they are difficult to press, particularly for young children who cannot push them hard enough.

"...This book at 2years for Christmas was a hit! The buttons are somewhat difficult but I’m not sure how they could improve that given the way the book..." Read more

"...The only thing I will say is that the buttons are very difficult to operate, even an adult has to press pretty hard in a specific spot to get them..." Read more

"...The notes are all located at the end of the book. They are easier to press when you get to those and she is able to do it herself...." Read more

"...Yes, the buttons are much harder to push them on other music books, but my 20 months old grandchild managed to learn how to do it!..." Read more

Recommend!
5 out of 5 stars
Recommend!
Bought this boo for Christmas, girls like it very much. The music is amazing.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Valerie O
    5.0 out of 5 stars A hit for a two-year old who loves books and music even more!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this book for our grandson and was originally going to wait for Christmas and thought instead, what better way to anticipate Christmas than reading (and listening) to the Nutcracker! So it became part of his birthday gift instead. This book feels special and it is. The outside has a firm kind of fabric-feel and is beautiful. The illustrations are lovely and I like that the battery is on the back and had the strip that prevents playing prior to the purchaser pulling it. Our little guy just puts his tiny finger over the musical notes and they play the corresponding sections of the Nutcracker Suite - which was a family Christmas (the ballet) tradition from my childhood. Great way to anticipate and celebrate Christmas and traditions, I love it!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Huge fan of the story orchestra books! My kids love these books! They never grow tired of them. The sound quality is fantastic and illustrations are beautiful. My 2 and 4 year old both enjoy these books nutcracker.
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  • Morgan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great for all ages
    Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    My daughter loved another book in this series beginning at 18mos. This book at 2years for Christmas was a hit! The buttons are somewhat difficult but I’m not sure how they could improve that given the way the book is made. These books are beautiful and make great gifts.
    One person found this helpful
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  • CH
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Intro to the Nutcracker
    Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I purchased this for my 5 year old granddaughter’s birthday (prior to her being n a nutcracker performance with her dance studio. It is a beautiful book and a great introduction to the story and music of the ballet.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Kathy S.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Great book with lovely illustrations and the music is amazing. My granddaughters love it!
    Helpful
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  • Lisa B.
    5.0 out of 5 stars 3 year old is enchanted
    Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The artwork is beautiful. The book is well made. The cover is heavy and textured like linen. The pages are quality paper. My 3 year old granddaughter is enchanted by the music when she presses the musical note. The note can require quite a bit of pressure so we press it together. The notes are all located at the end of the book. They are easier to press when you get to those and she is able to do it herself. When we finish reading the story and get to the end she presses each note, first from 1 to 10 then counts down 10 to 1. I read it to her before bedtime every Friday night when she sleeps over. I was so impressed with it that I bought the rest of the books in the series.
    Helpful
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  • Baily
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous Book
    Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This was a Christmas gift for my ballet loving 5 year old, and she loves it. The book is well made and sturdy, the music is beautiful, the artwork is fabulous, and the story is simple and sweet. I can't wait to get more Story Orchestra books.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, but not durable
    Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book is great and the musical accompaniments are perfect for teaching my toddler the story of The Nutcracker. The illustrations really are beautiful. That being said, the binding had already started to break after two weeks of daily use. I let her push the buttons but I always hold the book since the pages felt a little flimsy from the start, so I know that's not it. Probably best for occasional use and looking pretty on a shelf.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Miss A.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 16, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    My 6 year old daughter loves this series of books. This one is extremely beautiful and I'm looking forward to giving it to her as her Christmas eve bedtime story. The addition of the music is very clever and really helps to bring they story to life.
    Report
  • A.... B....
    5.0 out of 5 stars çok güzel
    Reviewed in Turkey on October 16, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    bale gösterisine gitmiş ve çok sevmiştik kızımla. biraz pahalı ama kaliteli bir kitap, tavsiye ederim. yalnız pilleri arızalı geldi. değişimle uğraşmak istemedim..
    Report
  • Rachel Ong
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book
    Reviewed in Singapore on November 22, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    My kids age 5 and 2+ girl love it so much! Beautiful music to listen at every scene of story. Definitely a great book to read~
    Report
  • snowball
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nutcracker - Symphony of the Orchestra for children
    Reviewed in Canada on April 2, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    excellent intro to classical music - this is the third book I purchase Apparently my grandchildren love it so much they don't want to share
    The Symphony of Orchestra series is an excellent intro to classical music for toddlers and up
    Report
  • nur cc
    4.0 out of 5 stars hard buttons
    Reviewed in Sweden on December 10, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    buttons to play the music hard to push. you should really try strong. Other than that good concept
    Report