Ella Bella Ballerina and the nutcracker

by James Mayhew

Join Ella Bella Ballerina as she twirls into the enchanting world of The Nutcracker ballet with its magical dancing snowflakes, tantalising swirling sweets and, of course, the beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy. But can Ella Bella help the Nutcracker to defeat his arch enemy, the wicked Mouse King? James Mayhew's richly detailed storytelling and his exquisite, retro art-style make this book perfect for all would-be prima ballerinas. The final page is devoted to ballet facts, so children can learn about the original ballet The Nutcracker.

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Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?