Long ago, people made special wooden toys called nutcrackers. Many of them looked like brave little soldiers.
A nutcracker soldier stands tall and straight. He often wears a bright red jacket and shiny black boots. He might also wear a tall hat.
Artists carve these figures out of solid wood. Then, they paint them by hand with bright colors.
Nutcrackers have a very special job. They have strong jaws that open and close. When you place a hard nut in the mouth and press the lever, the shell cracks open!
Today, many people use nutcrackers as holiday decorations. They often stand on a shelf next to tiny toy drums.
The little drums have golden strings and tiny drumsticks. Together, the soldier and his drums look like they are ready for a musical parade.
Even though many people do not use them to crack nuts anymore, these wooden soldiers are still loved by children everywhere.
