Tutus, stage lights, and tights-wearing mice - a girl's giddy first experience dancing in "The Nutcracker" is celebrated for all to share. For a young dancer, everything about "The Nutcracker" is thrilling, from auditions to opening night. Readers experience it all with Kepley as she dances before judges, goes to rehearsals, and stifles giggles as she gets carried offstage by a man dressed as a giant mouse! DePalma expertly takes readers backstage and into the heart of a small dancer as The Nutcracker Doll captures the magic of theater and the thrill of being part of a great ballet.