Hello readers! Every week, the BOA staff shares one of our favorite poems from our over 300 collections of poetry. We're kicking off the holiday season this week with a poem from Fuel by Naomi Shihab Nye.

Boy and Mom at the Nutcracker Ballet

There's no talking in this movie.

It's not a movie! Just watch the dancers.
They tell the story through their dancing.

Why is the nutcracker mean?

I think because the little boy broke him.

Did the little boy mean to?

Probably not.

Why did the nutcracker stab his sword through the mouse king?
I liked the mouse king.

So did I. I don't know. I wish that part wasn't in it.

You can see that girl's underpants.

No, not underpants. It's a costume called a "tutu"—same word
as "grandmother" in Hawaiian.

Are those real gems on their costumes?
Do they get to keep them?
Is that really snow coming down?

No, it can't be, it would melt and their feet get wet.

I think it's white paper.

Aren't they beautiful?

They are very beautiful. But what do the dancers do
when we can't see them, when they're off the stage
and they're not dancing?
Do you have any more pistachios in your purse?

Buy a copy of Fuel from the BOA Bookstore.

 Get ready for the holiday season with BOA's Holiday Sale—going on now! Get 25% off all BOA Bookstore orders now through December 18th with promo code SHOPBOA!