Chris Barton

Every December, The Nutcracker comes to life in theaters all across the United States. But how did this 19th-century Russian ballet become such a big part of the holidays in 21st-century America? Meet William, Harold, and Lew Christensen, three small-town Utah boys who caught the ballet bug in the early 1900s. They performed on vaudeville and took part in the New York City dance scene. Russian immigrants shared the story of The Nutcracker with them,...

Clarence joins his neighbor, Mr. Dent, and his cat Throttle for a day of surfing at the beach, but when Throttle gets into trouble and cannot swim, it's up to Clarence to save the day.

From the impoverished young woman who enchanted 19th-century British society as a faux Asian princess to the lonely but clever Frank Abagnale of "Catch Me if You Can" fame, these 10 vignettes offer riveting insight into mind-blowing masquerades. Illustrations. 6 cx 9.