[Cover Art Unveiled] Enjoy Ballet Masterpieces with Modern Stories! New Series Vol. 1 'Ballet Masterpiece☆Stories: The Nutcracker' Now Available for Pre-order

Gakken Inc. (Shinagawa, Tokyo; President: Tatsuya Nanjo), a group company of Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd. (Shinagawa, Tokyo; President: Hiroaki Miyahara), unveiled the cover art for the children's book 'Ballet Masterpiece☆Stories Vol. 1: The Nutcracker' (scheduled for release on June 25, 2026) on April 28, 2026, and began accepting pre-orders.

A new series has been launched, allowing readers to enjoy classic ballet masterpieces with stories and abundant illustrations!

Following the highly popular "Little Ballerina" series, which has sold over 190,000 copies, the long-awaited new children's ballet book series "Ballet Masterpiece☆Stories" is now underway.

The first volume features the classic "The Nutcracker," filled with dreams and magic. This book allows readers to fully immerse themselves in the world of the masterpiece, feeling as if they are watching a stage performance, alongside the story of Kanon, an elementary school student who loves ballet.

[Highlights of this book]

◆Double the fun in one book!
It simultaneously includes the ballet masterpiece "The Nutcracker" and the coming-of-age story of Kanon, a girl who loves ballet. Furthermore, with a modern story at the beginning and end, readers can smoothly enter the world of the masterpiece.

◆Immersive like a stage performance
Full of illustrations, the world of the story vividly unfolds. There are also abundant ballet illustrations, allowing readers to enjoy the story as if they are watching a stage performance.

◆Enriched end pages
The end pages include illustrated explanations of ballet movements, a stylish page, and cute special stationery. Additionally, the "The Nutcracker" work explanation page features stage photos from the Tokyo Ballet, deepening understanding of the work and performance.

◆Supervised by experts
Kumiko Murayama supervised the ballet content, making this book a correct and beautiful way to convey the charm of ballet and the work.

――Reading it will make you love reading and art even more.

This book is perfect for children who "love ballet" or "love stories," as well as those who are encountering ballet masterpieces for the first time.

[Product Overview]

■'Ballet Masterpiece☆Stories Vol. 1: The Nutcracker'
Text: Naomi Kinji, Akiko Tominaga / Illustrations: Mae Sasaki / Supervision: Kumiko Murayama
Ballet illustration diagrams, etc.: Yuka Sato / Some backgrounds, etc.: Natsuko Kosaka
Price: 1,375 yen (tax included)
Scheduled release date: June 25, 2026
Target age: Elementary school students (2nd grade and above)
Format: B6 modified (hardcover) / 166 pages
Digital version: Scheduled for distribution
ISBN: 978-4-05-206309-1
Publisher: Gakken Inc.
Gakken Publishing website: https://hon.gakken.jp/book/1020630900

[Pre-order this book here]
・Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4052063090/
・Rakuten Books: https://books.rakuten.co.jp/rb/18591409/
・7net: https://7net.omni7.jp/detail_isbn/9784052063091

■Gakken Inc.
https://www.corp-gakken.co.jp/
・President and Representative Director: Tatsuya Nanjo
・Date of establishment: January 13, 2009 (Trade name changed on October 1, 2022)
・Capital: 50 million yen
・Location: 2-11-8 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8416
・Business activities: Publishing and content business, global business, medical and nursing publishing content business, kindergarten and school business, classroom-related business, EC and online business, advertising business.

■Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd.
https://www.gakken.co.jp/
・President and Representative Director: Hiroaki Miyahara
・Date of establishment: March 31, 1947
・Capital: 19,817 million yen
・Sales: 199.1 billion yen, consolidated subsidiaries: 82 companies (as of September 2025)
Listed on the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (Securities Code: 9470)
・Location: 2-11-8 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8510
・Phone number: 03-6431-1001 (main)
・Business activities: A holding company founded in 1946, engaged in education and medical welfare related businesses.
Education field: Classroom and cram school businesses including "Gakken Classroom," publishing and content businesses for learning materials, kindergarten and school businesses for textbooks and childcare products, etc.
Medical welfare field: Service-oriented senior housing business, dementia group home business, childcare support businesses such as nurseries and after-school care, etc.
Global: Activities and business development in over 150 countries.