The Night Before Christmas (Hardcover)

by Clement Clarke Moore (Author), Gennady Spirin (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
PreS Up–Spirin's richly colored and ornate colored-pencil and watercolor illustrations opposite each page of text place this version of the classic poem in a nostalgic, 18th-century European town. Resembling medieval illuminated manuscripts, an embellished capital letter or a fanciful scene or figure in the first word of each verse sets the mood for each page. Readers are drawn into the magical wonder of the season through the artist's skilled use of color, detail, and shadow. The traditional portrayal of Santa as a jolly old elf is more apparent in this rendition than in other current editions. Special notes on the last page give a brief history of the poem and reveal a minor dispute over its true authorship. A warm, inviting, and beautifully illustrated book.–Maureen Wade, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Spirin stays close to the conventional, nostalgic views, setting his scenes in a yesteryear European village visited by a Santa straight from central casting, all sparkling blue eyes and bushy white beard. Dabbed with gold and scrolled with fine brushwork, the paintings beautifully contrast the colors of moonlight and firelight, while the lustrous scenes of the reindeer team, pulling its ornate sled, imbue the title with an Old World, fairy-tale richness. A final note addresses the recent controversy over Moore's authorship of the poem. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 29 pages
• Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Corporation (August 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761452982
• ISBN-13: 978-0761452980
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #407,120 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most gorgeous illustrations ever of this classic, December 16, 2006

By	motivated mom (silver spring,md usa) - See all my reviews

I have several versions of this wonderful old tale---even those saved from my own childhood. But when I saw this for sale at Union Station, I had to have it. The illustrations are breathtaking! Look for the shadows that Mr Spirin, a prize winning Russian artist, paints into his scenes. Have you ever seen the underneath of Santa's richy embellished sleigh as it is "parked" on a rooftop? Look for the cats who are also coming downstairs to "see what was the matter". My kids are teens now, but I bought it for them for when they have kids. It is the very essence of the Spirit of Santa's yearly wintertime journey!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Provides some classic, lovely embellishments perfect for libraries seeking something fresh and appealing., December 9, 2006

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Ages 4-8 will relish a new spin on Clement Clarke Moore's classic, which uses Gennady Spirin's lovely, artistic panels to illustrate the simple holiday classic. While the story's been reprinted hundreds of times so undoubtedly you have at least one version in your library, this NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS provides some classic, lovely embellishments perfect for libraries seeking something fresh and appealing.

3.0 out of 5 stars My opinion, January 7, 2009

By	Richard J. Wiegand (Millersville, MD USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Generally I was pleased with this book. However, the illustrations show a young boy observing Santa, whereas the poem's text clearly indicates that the story is written from the perspective of the father of the house.