Customer Reviews

The Night Before the Night Before Christmas (Reading Railroad Books)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This twist on Clement C. Moore's Christmas poem is one that parents can really identify with! It's about all the things that can and will go wrong during Christmas preparations, like burnt cookies. Yet the spirit of the holiday wins out. My daughter really likes this book and I think it is a pleasure to read to her. I don't agree with the editorial review that it, "...scans awkwardly and does not easily lend itself to sharing aloud." I love the illustrator's style too. It's a very cute and clever book that is worth having in your Christmas library.

I am an English teacher and a new mother and I love this book. The way it plays on the Clement Moore poem is so clever and well done. I also love the way it is humorous and fun, and yet has a sentimental and sweet ending and ties back to the original Christmas poem. I would recommend this book to all mothers and children who like to read together!

This is both my daughter's and my favorite Christmas book. We read it every night. It rhymes, is funny and has beautiful illustrations.

...this is their favorite Christmas story.

As a housewarming gift, I picked up a pair of Christmas books for my friends' children last year. This year, their mother again thanked me for "The Night Before the Night Before Christmas." It had become her kindergartener's and pre-schooler's favorite. In fact, it was the only story the pre-schooler wanted to hear.

For fun, I ordered myself a copy. It is now my favorite too. Following the cadences of "The Night Before Christmas," readers are invited along to witness a typical, loving family's Christmas challenges. Page after page of endearing illustrations will enchant readers of all ages. Not even the most dedicated Grinch can resist.

Don't wait another year to pick up this great story.

We originally purchased this book several years ago. Now, on the night before the night before Christmas, our younger daughter dresses up like Santa (more like a cute little elf) and reads this to us. It has become a beloved family tradition - one we almost missed out on because too late I discovered our copy had ended up in the donate pile by accident. Fortunately, Amazon was able to get us a copy in time so we were still able to enjoy our yearly reading. This book is a fun read for the whole family. The kids will love the rhyming & pictures. The adults will be able to relate to the hectic rush of the holiday. However, it's the ultimate story of family love that will shine through in the end!

The old classic Christmas poem, "The Night Before Christmas" is probably one of the most repeated and parodied works ever. The different versions of this poem must number into the hundreds; if not the thousands. I can remember that a group of us wrote our own version when I was in high school which was based on a "Beatnik" theme and included some very good illustrations which alas, was not appreciated one little bit by the folks who ran the school and the local PTA. (Hey, it was their loss).

Anyway, this little book is yet another and I have to tell you right now that I love this little version.

"Twas the night before the night before Christmas,
with too much to do.
Our tree wasn't up yet,
and Mom had the flu."

Let me state right now that the art work in this one is comical in nature and an absolute delight. The artist, Mike Lester has captured the spirit of this little verse and the circumstances perfectly.

"Dad tied the tree to our car.
`This will just have to do.'
Mom nodded glumly
and sneezed, `Ah-ah0CHOOO!'

We dragged in our tree
through the front door.
It dropped half its needles
all over the floor."

I think one of the reasons that this book is so appealing is that there is much truth on each page and children are able to identify with it instantly. I dare say that the sort of situations addressed here are played out in numerous households, to one extent or another, throughout the country each year.

"When he plugged in the cord,
not a single light lit.
Did we have extra bulbs?
Yes...but none of them fit."

When all is finall ready, the family enters their home only to find that the family cat has pretty well destroyed tree, decorations and all. Is Christmas ruined? Is all lost?

Of course not.

The family has the true sense of what Christmas is all about - what a lovely ending!

This one is a great group read - kids love this thing.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

Fun for all ages! Made it laugh. Gift from teacher to my 4 year old and other children in her class.

A great book to read to a pre-schooler before introducing them to the traditional "Night Before Christmas" story. My granddaughter absolutely loved it! She read it 4 times in one night. Natasha Wing is my new favorite children's author and I plan on purchasing all the Night Before books.

This is a very cute, fun, interesting story. My kids love it, and I admit it's one of my favorite Christmas books (that we read year-round). The pictures are great, and the rhyming is perfect. You will want to read this one over and over (and it's definitely one that all parents can relate to!). But in the end, it keeps bringing home the message that Christmas isn't about all the "stuff", it's about love and family and togetherness, which is what our kids really need to know.

This was read to us when we were kids...now I read it to my kids. We laugh till our faces turn red