Late at night on Christmas Eve, an enchanting toy introduces a young girl to a secret wonderland.

The whimsy and beauty of E. T. A. Hoffmann's classic story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King has fascinated readers and audiences for more than two hundred years. The music of Tchaikovsky's famous ballet is forever linked to the story in our minds?but another kind of music sets the beat for this imaginative retelling. Set in New York City during the height of the Harlem Renaissance, this jazz-inspired reinvention of The Nutcracker is a worthy tribute to the dreamlike wonder and magic of the Christmas season.

T. E. McMorrow belongs to the third generation of writers in his family. A journalist and playwright, he is also a member of the Drama Desk in New York City. Many years ago, he worked as a stagehand for the Dance Theatre of Harlem, an experience that helped plant the first seeds of inspiration for this book. Mr. McMorrow splits his time between Manhattan and the East End of Long Island with his wife, Carole, and their two cats, Cinnamon and Moxie.