The Story Orchestra: The Nutcracker Press The Note to Hear Tchaikovsky’s Music
It is Christmas Eve at Clara’s house. Scents of ginger, chocolate, and peppermint waft through the air. Clara’s parents are having a party, and her little brother Fritz is decorating the Christmas tree. Clara’s godfather, a toymaker, arrives with gifts, including a very special one for her—a wooden nutcracker carved in the shape of a little man. After Fritz breaks it, the children are sent to bed.
The story follows Clara in her dreams as she battles and defeats a mouse king, then travels with her nutcracker-turned-prince to the Land of Sweets where she watches its enchanting inhabitants perform beautiful dances. As you and your little one journey through the magical scenes, you will press the buttons to hear 10 excerpts from the ballet’s music, including “The Waltz of the Flowers,” “The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” “The Russian Dance,” and the awesome “Finale.”
Readers should press firmly on the pages to activate the sound board at the back of the book, encouraging interactive learning and introducing children to this beautiful piece of music.
At the back of the book, find a short biography of the composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, with details about his composition of The Nutcracker ballet. Next to this, you can replay the musical excerpts and, for each of them, read a discussion of the instruments, rhythms, and musical techniques that make them so powerful. A glossary defines musical terms.
The Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for children through gorgeously illustrated retellings of classic ballet, opera, and program music stories paired with 10-second sound clips of orchestras playing from their musical scores. With The Story Orchestra keyboard sound books, children can play the famous melodies themselves with the sound of a real grand piano.
Also available from the Story Orchestra series: The Magic Flute, I Can Play (vol 1), Carnival of the Animals, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and Four Seasons in One Day.
Manufacturer’s note: please pull the white tab out of the back of the book before use. Sound buttons require a firm push in exact location to work, which may be hard for young children. All sound clips are 10 seconds long.
All orders are packed and dispatched from our shop in Perth, Ontario, Canada within 1–5 business days.
Once your order has been placed, we are unable to make any changes, including shipping or delivery address updates, size changes, item changes, or order cancellations. Please review your order carefully before completing your purchase.
Canada
- Flat rate shipping: $15 CAD on all orders.
- Yukon, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Newfoundland & Labrador: Flat rate shipping of $25 CAD.
- Orders are shipped via Canada Post, Purolator, or UPS using expedited parcel service.
- All shipments include tracking and insurance up to $100.
- Tracking information will be emailed once your order has been dispatched.
Local Pickup
Free local pickup is available at our storefront:
92 Gore Street East
Perth, Ontario
You will receive an email when your order is ready for pickup.
United States
- Flat rate shipping: $35 CAD on all orders.
- Orders ship via Purolator using Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU).
- Import duties, taxes, customs fees, and any additional charges are not included at checkout and are the responsibility of the customer.
- At this time, Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) shipping is not available.
International
- Shipping rates are calculated at checkout based on your destination.
- Estimated delivery time is 10–21 business days.
- We recommend selecting a shipping service that includes tracking.
- Import duties, taxes, customs fees, and any additional charges imposed by the destination country are the responsibility of the customer.
- At this time, Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) shipping is not available.
Additional Information
- Shipping times are estimates only and are not guaranteed.
- Delays may occur due to customs processing, holidays, weather, or carrier-related issues beyond our control.
- Customers are responsible for providing a complete and accurate shipping address at checkout.
- Orders returned due to an incorrect or incomplete address are not eligible for a refund. Additional shipping charges will apply if you would like the order reshipped.
- If duties, taxes, or customs fees are refused or remain unpaid, any resulting return shipping fees, customs charges, or carrier fees will be the responsibility of the customer.
- Orders returned, abandoned, or undelivered due to unsuccessful delivery attempts may incur additional charges, including return shipping costs.
- If we do not receive instructions regarding a returned parcel within 14 days of contacting you, the shipment will be considered abandoned in accordance with the courier's tariffs and terms and conditions.
- Oversized or irregularly shaped items may require additional shipping charges. If applicable, we will contact you before processing your order.
- Once your order has been shipped, Aprikose is not responsible for parcels that are lost, stolen, delayed, or damaged in transit. Packages marked as delivered by the shipping carrier are not eligible for replacement or refund.
- Shipping charges, duties, taxes, and all shipping costs associated with returns or exchanges are the responsibility of the customer.
- We use eco-conscious packaging whenever possible and are committed to minimizing waste.
At Aprikose, your satisfaction means everything to us. If you're not completely happy with your purchase, we accept returns within 14 days of delivery for store credit or exchange only.
Please note that we do not offer refunds. Returns and exchanges are available to Canadian customers only.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for a return, items must be:
- Unused, unworn, and unwashed
- In their original condition
- Returned in the original packaging with all tags attached
All returns are subject to inspection upon arrival. Approval of returns is at the sole discretion of Aprikose.
Non-Returnable Items
The following items are final sale and cannot be returned or exchanged:
- Undergarments, including socks and underwear
- Magazines
- Items marked Final Sale
- All discounted or sale items
Holiday & Seasonal Collections
Items purchased as part of our holiday or seasonal collections are final sale and are not eligible for return or exchange.
Store Credit
Store credit can be used both online and in-store.
To redeem your store credit online, please contact hello@shopaprikose.com.
How to Start a Return
To request a return for store credit or an exchange, please email hello@shopaprikose.com.
Once your return has been received and inspected, you will be notified by email. If approved, store credit will be issued or your exchange will be processed.
Shipping Costs
Customers are responsible for return shipping costs. Original shipping charges are non-refundable.
Return to Sender & Incorrect Shipping Addresses
It is the customer's responsibility to provide a complete and accurate shipping address when placing an order.
If an incorrect or incomplete address is provided, Aprikose is not responsible for lost deliveries and will not refund or replace the order.
If a parcel is returned to us due to an insufficient or incorrect address, additional shipping charges may apply before the order can be reshipped.
If we do not receive instructions regarding a returned parcel within 14 days of contacting you, the shipment will be considered abandoned in accordance with the courier's tariffs and terms and conditions, and no further action or compensation will be provided.
Duties, Taxes & Customs Fees
International customers are responsible for any duties, taxes, customs fees, or import charges required by their destination country.
If these charges are refused or remain unpaid and the parcel is returned to Aprikose, any return shipping fees, customs charges, and carrier fees incurred will be deducted from any eligible store credit. Original shipping charges are non-refundable.
If the parcel is abandoned, destroyed by customs, or otherwise cannot be returned to Aprikose due to unpaid duties or taxes, the order will not be refunded, credited, or replaced.
Damaged or Lost Items
Every order is packed with care and attention to detail. Once your order has been shipped, Aprikose is not responsible for parcels that are lost, stolen, or damaged in transit.
If your package arrives damaged or is lost during shipment, we recommend contacting the shipping carrier (such as UPS or Canada Post) directly to file a claim. We will always do our best to assist wherever possible.