(1993) A Step 3 early reader retelling of the classic story of the Christmas ballet, The Nutcracker. From the opening Christmas Eve party scene to the closing scene in which Marie and her Nutcracker prince bid farewell to the Land of the Sweets, young readers will be enchanted while enjoying a successful reading experience. Step 3 Readers feature engaging characters in easy-to-follow plots about popular topics–for children who are ready to read on their own.