On the dark night of Christmas Eve, wondrous things happen. Dreams become reality, a girl shrinks to the size of a nutcracker, and takes on the battle against a seemingly overpowering Mouse King. A man made of wood must prove himself and ultimately finds redemption for his true self with the help of others. It is a fairy tale of pride and vanity, of hardness and jealousy. But it is also a tale of loyalty and courage. And of a love whose warmth melts an icy soul into salty tears and brings the withered back to life. Inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann, Peter Raffalt lets his heroes Sophie and the Nutcracker experience magical adventures in a fantastic world. The colorful illustrations were created by the artist Sibylle Gädeke.