FreeSchool Abridged Classics are an easier way to enjoy classic literature! Translated from the original German, this book has been standardized into modern American English, simplified to a 4th-grade reading level, and illustrated with hand-drawn pen-and-ink illustrations. FreeSchool Abridged Classics are also shortened as much as possible without losing a single scene. (This book is more than 30% shorter than the original.) Now you can enjoy classic literature in a more accessible way.

“The children must have been especially good that year, for they had never been given such wonderful things before!”

The Christmas present Marie treasures most is a wooden Nutcracker, with a gentle smile and a secret past. When the wicked Mouse King marches forth with his squeaking army, Marie is pulled into a magical world where bravery, loyalty, and love matter more than size or strength. Can she outwit the Mouse King and free her Nutcracker from his enchantment?

Examples of the changes made include:

• Simplification of sentence structure and vocabulary
• Reducing the length and complexity of paragraphs
• Updating or providing context for obsolete words
• Replacing advanced vocabulary with simpler words

Readers who may benefit from this version of the novel include:

• Young readers
• Those looking for a read-aloud version
• Students with learning disabilities
• English as a Second Language (ESL) or English Language Learners (ELL) readers
• Adult literacy learners
• Educators
• Casual readers