The Night Before Christmas

by Clement Clarke Moore (Author) Holly Hobbie (Illustrator)

The Night Before Christmas
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
In her fresh imagining of Moore's timeless classic, acclaimed watercolorist Hobbie introduces an entirely new character to capture the magic and heighten the wonder of this exciting, mysterious time. Full color.
Select format:
Hardcover
$18.99

Kirkus

Starred Review

Hobbie’s fresh interpretation of the beloved Christmas classic offers a new way to see the arrival of St. Nick, from the perspective of one of the children of the household, rather than just the father.

An intriguing cover illustration sets the scene, with the four children of the family snuggled up in a huge bed. The three older children are sound asleep, but look closely at the youngest boy, a towheaded toddler in a footed sleeper-suit. He’s wide awake, and he and the family’s cat head downstairs together. The little boy hides in a striped armchair and secretly watches as Santa arrives for his delivery. The father of the family is also awake and watching, connecting effectively with the narrator’s voice in the poem. There is a hushed, magical feeling in Hobbie’s masterful illustrations, done in watercolor, gouache, and pen and ink. She effectively captures the subdued lighting of the quiet house at night and the dark, mysterious atmosphere of the outdoor scenes with deep-gray skies, snowy vistas and a single fox standing by. Every element of the book’s thoughtful design is skillfully chosen, including surprising perspectives, effective use of white space and an elegant type that echoes the muted palette of the illustrations.

This is a quiet Night Before Christmas, one to savor and read over and over, year after year. (artist’s note) (Picture book. 3-7)

Copyright 2013 Kirkus Reviews, LLC Used with permission

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

Hobbie re-envisions this much-loved holiday poem through the eyes of a curious toddler and the family cat, along with the traditional patriarch narrator, in a radiant, gorgeously illustrated rendition. A snowy, magically moonlit sky and cozily appointed countryside home set the hushed, anticipatory scene for St. Nick's wondrous visit. Wide-eyed astonishment on the faces of both father and child peeking at the action instantly convey the excitement of the season while watercolor and pen and ink spots, panels, and spreads present gentle, homey details--the toddler's drop-seat pajamas, rustic garlands and stockings, a well-used fireplace. An artist's note and information about Moore close out this volume. Ages 3-6. (Oct.)

Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 3--An elegant, almost Art Deco sensibility and a multitude of viewpoints make this version of the holiday classic stand out. Hobbie uses transparent watercolor, pen and ink, and gouache on watercolor paper to good effect, with plenty of white space. Readers see the story from the perspective of a fox, Papa (sans nightcap), an enterprising toddler, and the pet cat, and a view from overhead. The illustrations will carry with a fairly large audience, but up-close inspection offers even more enjoyment, such as the matching astonishment on the faces of father and child, Santa's grandfatherly twinkle, even what looks like amusement on the faces of the reindeer. A brief biography of Moore and an artist's note are appended. A fine edition to freshen up holiday collections.--Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

* "A radiant, gorgeously illustrated rendition."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
Clement Clarke Moore
Clement Clarke Moore, (1779-1863), was a professor at New York City's General Theological Seminary (built on land donated by his father) who, in an 1836 reprint of A Visit From St. Nicholas (more commonly known today as Twas the Night Before Christmas), was first credited as the author of the poem, and later included it in an anthology of his work.

Lindsay Dale-Scott studied graphic design and illustration at Columbus College of Art and Design. She earned an award for her advertising campaign for the sloth sanctuary of Costa Rica and gained national recognition with the American Advertising Awards. She lives with her family in Cleveland, Ohio.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780316070188
Lexile Measure
940
Guided Reading Level
N
Publisher
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date
October 22, 2013
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV007000 - Juvenile Fiction | Classics
JUV057000 - Juvenile Fiction | Stories in Verse (see also Poetry)
JUV017010 - Juvenile Fiction | Holidays & Celebrations | Christmas & Advent
Library of Congress categories
Children's poetry, American
Christmas
Santa Claus
Christmas poetry

Subscribe to our delicious e-newsletter!