The Night Before Christmas [Library Binding]

Clement Clarke Moore (Author), Bruce Whatley (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up

No poem better expresses the magic and excitement of Christmas Eve than Clement C. Moore's “The Night Before Christmas.” Now, acclaimed illustrator Bruce Whatley has brought this favorite poem to life with stunning illustrations that perfectly capture all the joy of the Christmas holiday season. The snowy New England landscapes, the eight flying reindeer, and Saint Nicholas himself are all gloriously rendered, and will make this version of the classic poem a Christmas tradition in its own right.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there."

Generations of children have thrilled to these words as their favorite holiday grows near. Clement C. Moore wrote this account of a man's encounter with St. Nicholas in 1822 to entertain his children. Since then, his charming descriptions have become the definitive portrait of Santa Claus, from his twinkling eyes to his droll little mouth to the belly that shakes like a "bowlful of jelly." In this edition, award-winning illustrator Bruce Whatley brings Moore's well-loved Christmas classic to life with his vivid pictures and unusual perspectives. Readers can practically look up Dasher and Dancer's noses at one point, in a near-3-D close-up image of Santa's flock of reindeer.

Bright colors and clever details (one remaining leaf hangs from a tree outside the window, mice curl tightly together in a nest on a high shelf, reindeer peek mischievously over the rooftop at the unsuspecting narrator...) make this a holiday book the whole family will return to year after year. (Ages 3 to 10) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Firelight, moonglow and shadow flicker throughout Whatley's (Whatley's Quest) interpretation of this holiday chestnut. The protagonist here is adult, residing in a New England hamlet; his home is filled with details seemingly from earlier this century. The book exudes a gee-whiz excitement, but the manic expressions of Santa and his reindeer take the idea of wide-eyed wonder a tad too far, breaking an otherwise magical mood. And the significance of the gift Santa winkingly hands the narrator (a cowboy toy that apparently evokes his boyhood) may befuddle younger readers. All ages. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Library Binding: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060283807
• ISBN-13: 978-0060283803
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 10.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,117,111 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This must have been how it was when it really happend!, November 27, 1999

By 

Gretchen Donahoo (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Night Before Christmas (Hardcover)

A wonderfully illustrated version of the magical story by Clement Moore. This book is a must have for every family during the holiday season. I have memorized my version and will recite to my 22 grandchildren on Christmas Eve. Happy holidays and love to all.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Scary Illustrations, December 7, 2007

By 

Kali "Kali" (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Night Before Christmas Board Book (Board book)

I bought this because I wanted a book with vibrant illustrations for my 7 month old daughter's first Christmas. Fortunately, she is too young to recognize it, but both my mother and I find the illustrations scary.

Several of the pictures of Santa show him wide-eyed and deranged looking. Hardly the benevolent figure of childhood. The reindeer have rolling eyes that make the look like they have a serious case of mad cow disease. I find them really disturbing.

Beyond that, to me, the illustrations are more about the father of the story than the magic of Christmas. Things first turn when what is supposed to be an old black and white picture of a little boy dressed as a cowboy appears in the background of one of the illustrations.

The next page shows Santa holding the picture and the father of the story pointing at himself - clearly indicating the picture is him as a child.

In subsequent illustrations, Santa leaves the man with a small cowboy figurine.

Perhaps the illustrator was trying to fulfill his own feeling about Christmas and toys of youth or toys desired but never received.

Had I seen these illustrations before purchasing, I never would have bought this book, and I plan on replacing it at first opportunity to something that is more child friendly.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very cute book, January 4, 2006

By 

B. Storrs (middle of nowhere, NE USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Night Before Christmas Board Book (Board book)

I ordered this to read to my son on Christmas Eve. I actually had a different book of the same story in my cart and reading thru the reviews realized it was a mini-book. This book is not big, but it's not little either. Very pleased with the book. The illistrations are wonderful and I love the poem. Very sturdy board book.