The story of the ballet about the mechanical dolls, which fostered so many other ballet and opera themes, has been synopsized and illustrated by Warren Chappell in a style that suggests the typical stage settings and costumes and includes the musical notation of the major passages in the score. The other books in this dance/opera/concert companion series for the youngest audience are: Hansel & Gretel, Peter and the Wolf, The Nutcracker, The Magic Flute and The Ring.