Not your same old Nutcracker story

We've amassed quite the collection of Christmas-themed picture books, but I'm always on the lookout for cool new titles to replace some of the ones we were given when the kids were little (I'm looking at you, Strawberry Shortcake's Berry…

Not your same old Nutcracker story
We've amassed quite the collection of Christmas-themed picture books, but I'm always on the lookout for cool new titles to replace some of the ones we were given when the kids were little (I'm looking at you, Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Merry Christmas).

Perennial CMP favorite publisher, and beloved 2009 Holiday Gift Guide sponsor, Chronicle Books, has just released the new A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas which looks like it will make a lovely addition to our collection of holiday stories.

With a whimsical new spin on the original tale (you know, a girl, her prince, and a whole lot of candy) A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas is co-written by kindie rock darling Ralph Covert and really nicely illustrated. It also comes with a companion CD, so the kids can amuse themselves with the book while I try to finish addressing Christmas cards before 2010. -Christina

Order A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas from Chronicle Books or our affiliate Amazon now to get it under the tree in time for Christmas. And be sure to check out our Holiday Gift Guide to find out how you can win a $250 assortment of books from Chronicle.

More in KidsView all picks →

shannon hale princess in black book and author

Q&A with children’s book author Shannon Hale

Shannon Hale is the bestselling author behind The Princess in Black series. It's a favorite early chapter book series for kids ages 5–8 and boys love it as much as girls do. Her newest book, Princess in Black and the Trick or Treating Trouble, comes out just in time for Halloween. We talked with her about it as part of our Q&A author series and asked about a few of her favorite things too.

Explore Build-a-Bear

Some Not-So-Spooky Fun this Halloween

How can Build-A-Bear be used for Halloween costumes? Let kids create a spooky Build-A-Bear sidekick to incorporate into their costume, which can help the costume be enjoyed beyond Halloween.

Q&A with children's author Sophie Blackall

Q&A with children's author Sophie Blackall

Cool Mom Picks readers, we are so excited to launch a new series for you. We are obsessed book lovers over here at the CMP headquarters, and we have a particular soft spot for children's books (even though we're moving our kids into coll…