Two centuries ago, a wonderful Christmas tale about the girl Marie, her toy Nutcracker and the treacherous mouse king was released. And over two centuries, the colors of Hoffmann’s story have not faded at all, and the book you are holding in your hands is the clearest confirmation of this. The kind and devoted Marie, the eccentric godfather Drosselmeyer, the valiant Nutcracker and the nasty mouse king - they all find a new life, given to them by the talented artist Anton Lomaev. Golden flames of Christmas candles and velvety winter twilight, fantastic outfits, whirling snowflakes, flickering reflections on decorations, many tiny details create a mystical and festive atmosphere - these illustrations are mesmerizing and impossible to look away from. The unique and recognizable style of Anton Lomaev seems to have been created for the great German romantic - the artist’s imagination, intertwined with the author’s imagination, gives birth to a new work, equally close to both children and adults. For younger ages.