At her first ballet ever, can an excitable little Chicken resist helping the story along? Fans will cheer as their favorite interrupter puts her spin on a beloved holiday classic.

"Hi, Clara! Like my tutu?"
"Ahem," said the narrator.
"Chicken!" said Papa. "You can't go onstage!"

It's winter vacation for the little red chicken and, with promises of best behavior, she's on her way to see The Nutcracker with Papa. She can't wait! In fact, she's so excited that Papa is worried she might get a little carried away . . . Take your seats and get ready to giggle as a certain irrepressible audience member dances onstage at key moments, determined to save the nutcracker from that bully Fritz and the sword-wielding Mouse King. But what happens when a revered classic has its storyline turned on its head? In this special holiday tale for loyal followers and new fans alike, David Ezra Stein moves the meta from page to stage as Chicken gleefully breaks the fourth wall.

Author: David Ezra Stein
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
Published: 09/09/2025
Series: Interrupting Chicken
Pages: 48
Weight: 1.1lbs
ISBN: 9781536207798


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 07/01/2025
Booklist 08/01/2025

About the Author
David Ezra Stein is the author-illustrator of many picture books, including the Caldecott Honor Book Interrupting Chicken and its sequels; I'm My Own Dog; Ice Boy; and Dinosaur Kisses. He lives with his family in Kew Gardens, New York.