The Night Before Christmas [Hardcover]

Clement Clarke Moore (Author), Jan Brett (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: September 11, 2008 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Whose tiny faces are peeking out from Santa's golden sleigh? Yikes! It's two of Santa's elves who are Christmas Eve stowaways. Beloved illustrator Jan Brett's version of The Night Before Christmas lets these two mischievous elves add their rambunctious spirit to this familiar 1823 rhyming story. Here, Santa and his reindeer land on the snowy roof of a Victorian mansion in New England. While Santa delivers the toys inside, the elves and the reindeer frolic around the lawn, as a pig (earmarked for a girl named Jan) and a few alphabet blocks spill out of sacks into the snow. Santa swiftly reins in the mischief-makers and "away they all flew like the down on a thistle." Brett's richly illustrated borders are lavishly decorated with antique toys, ornaments, and sweet treats, all surrounded with twisting golden ribbons. They also give us a window on the mansion's inhabitants, including the children watching Santa's departure in awe. A sugarplum of a Christmas story, just right for a reading before "a long winter's nap." (Click to see a sample spread. Illustrations ©1998 by Jan Brett. Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons, a division of Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers.) (Ages 3 to 6) --Marcie Bovetz --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

What Tavares's (Zachary's Ball) monochrome art for this famous poem may lack in seasonal palette, it more than makes up for in authenticity. The artist pays homage to the original text, incorporating the spellings and phrasings of 1823, the year in which the verse first appeared in a Troy, N.Y., newspaper. Stark yet lushly textured pencil drawings, recalling the work of Chris Van Allsburg, capture the mystery, surprise and anticipation of what many children consider the most magical night of the year. The finely wrought portraits and shadowy, snow-covered Victorian setting will enchant. Ages 5-up.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (September 11, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399251936
• ISBN-13: 978-0399251931
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 11.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (343 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #570,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Clement Clarke Moore was a professor of religion and the author of several scholarly works. What he is most remembered for, however, is his poem "An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas," later called "The Night Before Christmas," and written as a Christmas gift for his six children.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars a treasure September 14, 2004

By E. Raposa

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book as a gift, and now that I've seen it, I'm going to order more. The classic story is made even better by the beautiful fabric-feel cover, cozy illustrations, and the yellow ribbon bookmark with a stocking on the end. You won't be disappointed.

56 of 60 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One Beautiful Book January 2, 2002

By Elizabeth Payne

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Gorgeous...that is the best word to describe this book.

Christian Birmingham's illustrations create the pictures of the story that we all have in our heads...but alas, cannot paint ourselves.

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolutely beautiful book November 11, 2003

By John

Format:Hardcover

Couldn't recommend this edition highly enough. The illustrations are beautiful and bring the magic of Christmas to life for both young and old. It truly is an heirloom edition made all the more special by the brass christmas stocking bookmark.