The Nutcracker

The Wang brothers dramatically abridge E.T.A. Hoffman’s holiday tale in this addition to the Cozy Classics series, which reduces the story to 12 words, accompanied by photographs of needle-felted characters staged in intricate miniature environments. This adaptation begins with a “gift” (Drosselmeyer hands Marie the nutcracker as they stand before a page of text from Hoffman’s story). Marie’s “sleep” then leads to a “fight” with the mouse king, and she and the prince later “go” to a land of “sweets.” The sumptuously detailed and carefully composed scenes should enchant even readers who know little or nothing about this story, and adults can always help fill in the blanks. Up to age 2. Agent: Emily van Beek, Folio Literary Management. (Sept.)