Reviews for The night before Christmas
Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Following in a hoary tradition, another artist sets his work to Moore’s classic Christmas poem. A modern home is the setting for this rendition. A dog sleeps curled up in the hallway beside boots, children’s drawings, and a shovel, all backlit by the lights of a Christmas tree. A Christmas elf sits on the mantle above the stockings along with a portrait of a hooded woman holding a glowing star. The White family lies sleeping until the male narrator is awoken by the clatter from outdoors. He and the dog rush to the window and share the magical moment of spotting Santa driving his reindeer. They watch as Santa lands in the fireplace, distributes toys, and sits with his pipe and enjoys cookies before shooting back up the chimney and flying off into the night. The illustrations use saturated color, sharp lines, and bright highlights for an animation-style sheen. Close-ups of Santa depict a round, pink-faced, blue-eyed man who will appear jolly to some readers, unsettling to others. With an opening scene that’s familiar (to White, middle-class readers) and pets and mice sprinkled throughout, this visual tale will delight those who like to pair classic texts with more modern settings. Those contemporary trappings aside, this book’s sensibilities are in tune with the original text’s times. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Cozy fun for the right audience. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
A reworking of a classic Christmas poem casts animals as the main characters in this picture book. All the mice are asleep on the night before Christmas, as readers and listeners familiar with Clement Clarke Moore’s celebrated poem know. Illustrator Dunn reinforces the opening line by depicting a mouse looking quite comfortable under a quilt, sound asleep. But rather than “children” being nestled in their beds, here there are baby bunnies, and readers will quickly realize that the star of this retelling is Papa Rabbit. He is the great-great-grandfather of Paisley Rabbit, the hero of Richardson and Dunn’s Paisley Rabbit and the Treehouse Contest (2018). It’s Papa Rabbit, with his bright eyes, charming nose, and quirky nightcap, who reveals that St. Nick is a large polar bear delivering gifts to all. Richardson’s witty changes keep the basics of the poem while introducing specific animal descriptions: “His eyes how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry! / His nose was all wet and his cheeks were all hairy.” As in the original, the narrator and St. Nick have a close encounter before the jolly visitor wishes a Merry Christmas to all. While the rabbit and St. Nick are both anthropomorphized, the reindeer remain in their traditional animal forms and harnesses. Dunn’s gorgeous paintings are enchanting, full of Christmas cheer, and the ingenious spin makes this a wonderful addition to any collection, even those with several versions of the poem. A clever, animal-centered adaptation that deserves to become a holiday favorite. Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
Ages 3-6. According to the jacket illustration, Watson sets her stage in a small, present-day New England village, complete with outdoor Christmas lights and minivans; but once inside the cozy house, there's little to separate the poem from its nineteenth-century origins. Book design is clean and spacious, with generous white space around the text and the watercolor artwork. The familiar charm of Watson's style emerges through her crisp, black outlining, harmonious use of color, and the buoyant good humor of her little rounded characters. Let those who doubt the illustrator's realism compare the spotless perfection of households in other picture-book versions of the poem with this home's ingenuous disarray of abandoned wrapping paper, ribbons, socks, and holiday projects. Mildly humorous, but true to the text, this edition provides a pleasant alternative vision of the beloved poem, certainly a contrast to Harness' interpretation. ~--Carolyn Phelan
Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
Ages 3-8. Primitive style illustrations aptly carry the mood of one of the season's most popular poems. For presentations with an ethic influence introduce What a Morning! The Christmas Story in Black Spirituals and Ann Tompert's The Silver Whistle, set in Mexico.
Publishers Weekly
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The pictures, of course, turn Moore's ``A Visit from St. Nicholas'' into Marshall's manic visions of the blithe Victorian fantasy. In addition to the boldly colored illustrations, there are additional lines uttered by Papa in his cap and the household petsa bulldog, cat and chickenas they gaze out the window at Santa and his reindeer: ``Holy smoke!'' ``Never in all my born days!'' Another chicken, three more bulldogs and extra cats share sleeping quarters with countless children in bunk beds and with Mama whose night gear includes not only a 'kerchief but a helmet, goggles and an umbrella. In short, the familiar verses are here a production of the humorist's satiric eye and children will love it. (All ages) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Publishers Weekly
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Anita Lobel's 1984 rendering of Clement C. Moore's The Night Before Christmas is reissued in a small, hand-size hardcover edition. The New York City setting-inspired by Lobel's former home in Brooklyn-supplies a unique urban appeal. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book
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Fiction: NF Age: K-3 Tudor's characteristically charming watercolors impart an old-fashioned, homespun coziness to Moore's classic Christmas poem. Bordered full-color double-page spreads alternate with black-and-white ones; the pictures feature her own Vermont farmhouse and her pets, a cat and a corgi. For admirers of whimsy, there is much here, including a nod to Randolph Caldecott as the cat fiddles while an impish Santa dances a jig with the dog. Horn Rating: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration. Reviewed by: cls (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
Ages 3-6. Rand illustrates Moore's famous poem in a large-format picture book that showcases his colorful paintings in a series of double-page spreads. Even children in the back row of a story-time group will get the full effect of the moonlit New England snowscapes and cozy, period interiors. Not a stretch for Rand, but he's comfortably in his stride here, and his fans will find plenty to like. In fact, almost anyone looking for a traditional, soft-focus interpretation of this Christmas favorite will find it an appealing picture book. (Reviewed Oct. 15. 1995)155858465XCarolyn Phelan
Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
Ages 5-12. These book-and-cassette packages offer excellent readings of two elegantly illustrated books that represent the highest quality in children's literature. Meryl Streep's reading of The Night before Christmas and Morgan Freeman's reading of The Savior Is Born are fresh and masterful. Illustrator William Cone's illustrations for the first title have a Chris Van Allsburg-like look that emphasizes the mystery and wonder of Clement Moore's tale of Santa's visit. The second title closely follows the gospel account of Christ's birth. The simple yet meaningful retelling by Brian Gleeson is greatly enhanced by the full-color, stained glass-like illustrations by Robert Van Nutt. Added bonuses for both titles are the beautifully performed musical scores. These are wonderful additions to holiday collections. --Donna Pool Miller
Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
K-Gr. 3. In this freshly imagined illustrated version of the beloved Christmas classic, Zwerger visually revisits the words with care, creating spare and immaculate visions. There are four lines of text facing each image. The first picture is a tiny mouse asleep in a tiny curtained bed. Pale sketches of what appear to be snowflakes dancing on the white space above the picture are actually circles of dancing children. Turn the page, and six children are snuggled in one huge bed, and tiny reindeer appear outside a Victorian townhouse window. St. Nick, often the focus of the art, appears in a deep-blue double-page spread in attire closer to Moore's description than the traditional American Santa, with toys streaming out behind his sleigh on golden threads; each reindeer has its own personality. By the time the chubby and plump . . . right jolly old elf lays out the toys and is off, the grisaille snowflakes of the first pages have turned to gold dancing configurations of children, reindeer, and more. Lovely. --GraceAnne DeCandido Copyright 2005 Booklist
Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
Ages 3^-6. Rand illustrates Moore's famous poem in a large-format picture book that showcases his colorful paintings in a series of double-page spreads. Even children in the back row of a story-time group will get the full effect of the moonlit New England snowscapes and cozy, period interiors. Not a stretch for Rand, but he's comfortably in his stride here, and his fans will find plenty to like. In fact, almost anyone looking for a traditional, soft-focus interpretation of this Christmas favorite will find it an appealing picture book. --Carolyn Phelan
School Library Journal
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PreS Up-Watson presents a modern, hip, and playful version of the classic poem with Santa cruising in a rocket-ship-style sleigh into an ordinary American '50s town, dressed like a biplane aviator. Multicultural elves, including one with dreadlocks and carrying a boom box and another in an Asian jacket carrying an origami paper crane, decorate the text side of each spread. Watson's imaginative style, dynamic composition, and use of perspective are stunning and exciting, and call to mind Chris Van Allsburg's work. His use of blue hues in the realistic tempera-and-watercolor paintings makes one feel the chill of the night, while bright, warm patterns convey the coziness of three children snuggled in bed under their traditional American quilt. An additional bonus is the appended tongue-in-cheek interview between St. Nick and Watson where readers learn about how Santa got his reindeer and his customized Polaris sleigh. This imaginative version will be great for booktalks, storytime, and bedtime.-Maureen Wade, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publishers Weekly
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The Mary Engelbreit Gift Set arrives fully loaded with the well-loved illustrator's The Night Before Christmas, an audio CD read by Jim Dale and a keepsake ornament. The last, a cheerful disc, features a mouse asleep in a teacup, not even thinking of stirring. (HarperCollins, $25 ages 3-8 40p ISBN 9780-06-136495-2; Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Publishers Weekly
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A father rabbit awakens on the night before Christmas and meets towering polar bear St. Nick in this enthralling, animal-centered retelling of Clement C. Moore’s beloved Christmas poem. Richardson carefully swaps in details befitting the animal stand-ins, maintaining the original’s jaunty rhyme scheme and most of its original verse: “His eyes how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!/ His nose was all wet and his cheeks were all hairy.” Dunn’s intricate spreads present fantastical, near-photorealistic characters against lush snowy landscapes, amplified with adroit employment of chiaroscuro. This adaptation will serve well as a cozy wintertime read for animal lovers, and as a lovely option for anyone seeking a slight revision of the traditional. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)
Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
Ages 4^-8. Artist Whatley creates a surprisingly fresh interpretation of the beloved Christmas poem "The Night before Christmas." Although most versions focus on St. Nick, Whatley remembers that the father of the house narrates the poem, and he captures all of the feelings of surprise and wonder on the very ordinary-looking man's face. He also makes extensive use of dramatic shifts in perspective, as when he puts the viewer at ground level, looking up at the man staring out his bedroom window as skittish reindeer look down from the roof. Whatley's particular triumph is his depiction of those endearing but realistic reindeer, with their flared nostrils, widened eyes, and open mouths. They look energetic and strong enough to pull the sleigh and add greatly to the poem's slightly comical tone. After leaving the dad with his own special gift, Santa takes off once again. The overall effect isn't subtle or dainty, but it is meticulously executed, with tiny pencil strokes creating variations in coloration and texture throughout the book. Whatley gets every detail of the poem right in this book that simply shouts holiday cheer. --Susan Dove Lempke
Horn Book
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Fiction: NF Age: K-3 Now published in a hard-cover edition, Marshall's humorous rendition of the classic Christmas poem features nightcap-bedecked bulldogs, glassy-eyed chickens, and candy-crazed mice - not to mention seven children of various sizes and colors. A truly jolly book for the holidays. Horn Rating: Superior, well above average. Reviewed by: mvp (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book
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Fiction: NF Age: K-3 The classic Christmas poem beloved by generations receives a lush but traditional interpretation in Sanderson's handsome oil paintings. The icy blues of the snowy landscape contrast nicely with the rich, amber-hued interiors, but the figures appear wooden and fail to capture the poem's spirited essence. Horn Rating: Recommended, with minor flaws. Reviewed by: cls (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book
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Fiction: NF Age: K-3 The illustrations are not original or innovative in any way in this dismal introduction to the classic poem. The styles used to portray Santa and the father are jarringly different, and several scenes are so similar that it seems as if the artist ran out of ideas. Horn Rating: Marginal, seriously flawed, but with some redeeming quality. Reviewed by: shh (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
School Library Journal
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PreS-Gr 2-A cozy version of the poem in which the creatures that are stirring become the focus of the Christmas Eve activities. Tudor paints interior and exterior scenes of a Vermont farm brimming with wild and domestic life. When a tiny, elflike St. Nick appears, the family's cat and dogs join a couple of barn owls in a celebration with music, presents, and dancing. The man of the house's presence is minimal. This animal romp is pictured in glowing detailed watercolors that are placed on each page like miniatures set against starlit night backgrounds. This version will have particular appeal for one-on-one sharing in homes where pets have a special place.-A.C. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
School Library Journal
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K-Gr 6-By Clement Moore. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
Ages 4^-8. With more than 90 editions of Moore's immortal 1822 poem now in print, does the world really need another? The list already runs the gamut from pop up to glow in the dark, Hawaiian to African American. There is even a sticker book. This version offers no gimmickry or visual surprises, no fresh or unique interpretation. And yet Sanderson's old-fashioned renderings--of Santa in his sleigh, the children nestled in their bed, the stockings on the mantle--which resemble greeting cards from the 1950s, are refreshing in their own right. The oil paintings have a lovely twilight glow that helps evoke the excitement of the season. A good choice for the library in need of a new retelling with an old flavor. --Shelley Townsend-Hudson
Publishers Weekly
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Caparo follows Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Rudolph Shines Again with a handsome interpretation of Moore's classic holiday poem that brings it into the present day. In an urban neighborhood of townhouses, it's a scruffy-haired young dad in a cardigan who leaps out of bed and, after putting on dark-framed eyeglasses, spots Santa soaring overhead. The text of the poem is unchanged, which means that Caparo supplies this Santa with a pipe to smoke (he also gives him a pair of red, Converse-style high tops in lieu of boots). Along with the contemporary details Caparo brings to this retelling, the antics of the family's pets (and a pair of mice) add to the fun. The modern family that features in Caparo's sumptuous, lifelike images may help some readers connect to the sometimes-remote language of the original-he successfully gives this poem a fresh and stylish spin while reaffirming its timelessness. Ages 4-7. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
School Library Journal
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PreS Up?A very pretty but essentially traditional rendering of the familiar holiday poem. Warm colors dominate the palette with golden browns that glow in the interior scenes and cool blues for the snow and night sky. Although the scenes are beautiful, the people are stiff, with hard faces and uncomfortable positions; even the sleeping children don't look restful. There are so many other versions of the poem available with their own marks of graphic originality, such as Ted Rand's illustrated version (North-South, 1995) or The Grandma Moses Night Before Christmas (Random, 1991), that they make this an unnecessary purchase. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book
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Originally published in 1984, Lobel's version of the holiday poem sets the story in nineteenth-century New York City. Some of the details in the illustrations are murky in this smaller format. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Horn Book
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Though they offer nothing especially new, Rand's illustrations for Moore's classic poem are appropriately cozy and wintry. This miniature edition of the picture book is a handy size and not too small, but the type is too tiny. Reviewed by: jmb (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus
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Little Rachel and Mrs. Christie (who looks like an old grandmother) move to the country and like it. But a neighboring, bored king feels that their wild garden needs organizing, so he takes some workers over to put it in order despite Rachel's protests. It doesn't work--the animals won't stay put; and at last the king decides that disorganization is fun and arranges to come to tea every Wednesday. That's it--but a little organization in the direction of plot, theme, or any raison d'etre is clearly In order here. Browne no doubt takes more interest in her country scenes--rolling hills, wild grasses, patches of flowers, a full-page turkey, all made to shimmer by the application of tiny black dots--but the trick is not original and, more important, the pictures convey no more sense of story than the text does. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Publishers Weekly
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Like Whatley (see above), Tudor also whisks readers to New England, this time to a quiet spot in early-19th-century Vermont. Her cozy, nostalgic watercolor scenes, often lit by candle or roaring fire, are viewed as if through a large oval peephole. Loose ink lines and slightly hazy figures succeed in creating an aura of holiday fantasy. A spunky, elfin Saint Nicholas, a menagerie of perky pets (including the corgis, of course) and a very busy family of mice partying beneath the floorboards add a sense of fun. All ages. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book
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A bespectacled young father observes Santa Claus delivering his family's Christmas gifts in this edition of Moore's holiday poem. Caparo's rich-toned, full-bleed illustrations feel cinematic, with varied perspectives creating a sense of intimacy in the cozy home and neighborhood scenes. A contemporary typeface and modern visual details--such as fashionable Santa's red sneakers and striped gloves--gently update this classic tale. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book
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Zwerger brings a fresh sensibility to this frequently illustrated poem. An elf-sized Saint Nicholas uses practicality (a ladder to reach the chimney top) and magic (a tree that grows after he pulls it from his sack) to go about his business. The beauty of Zwerger's art is in the minimal use of details--enough to tell the story while leaving room for the imagination. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
School Library Journal
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Watson sets this night in a small New England town. Black-line drawings filled in with watercolors depict a household full of Christmas clutter that is gradually worked over by a capricious cat and dog while a mouse family watches. Santa's short roundness contrasts with the various-sized rectangle frames that enclose the tiny details of each picture. It's all a bit bland, lacking the excitement and flair of Anita Lobel's version (Knopf, 1984). (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus
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De Paola separates text from pictures, and surrounds them both, with pretty-colored geometric borders--based, we're told, on New England quilt designs. He puts quilts on the beds and doll-like, primitivist people in them. He shows the householder couple peeping from a doorway as Santa goes about his business. The pair appears stealthy and apprehensive at first, but then strangely sad or just slumped. Santa is properly short but stiffly puppetlike, despite the winking eye at the indicated moment. And the 1940s house is cozy and inviting, especially where we see the stocking hung and everyone snug in bed. So overall these pictures are more pleasantly decorative than those in de Paola's Old Befana (above). But de Paola seems to take his cue here from that second line, ""not a creature is stirring. . . ."" Santa goes through his mechanical motions and, except for the spying couple, all is still. Faithful to the text perhaps, but without a sign of life it palls. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
If a single big-game illustrator might have been able to succeed with Clement Moore's beloved chestnut, it was Anita Lobel--and the equivocal results probably demonstrate once and for all that the poem is best pictured by a corny commercial artist, in mass-market rather than trade-publishing form. Lobel has made the smart decision to set the story in late 19th-century New York--indistinguishable to a child from the older, smaller New York of Moore's era--which not only gives us a Christmas with Victorian trimmings, but also a memorable image of Santa's sleigh flying off, past a smiling full moon. . . and the Brooklyn Bridge. There's the passing charm, too, of the sleeping couple (""Mama in her kerchief, and I in my cap"") with their hands intertwined. But mostly Lobel's Santa is tubby and jovial, as he should be; and her reindeer are perky, as they should be; and the house is gaily bedecked, as it should be--and ""The Night Before Christmas"" isn't significantly different from what it's ever been. For those who've wanted an artistic rendering in the Moore spirit (which Weisgard and Duvoisin and many another couldn't manage), this is it--but the vehicle is better suited to a broader, more commonplace touch. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
A newly illustrated version of an old Christmas poem.The striking cover art for this reimagining of Moores poem A Visit From St. Nicholas (sometimes attributed to Henry Livingston) eschews typical visions of Santa and his reindeer silhouetted against the night sky. Instead, Wuerbs depicts a snowy landscape with sleigh-runner tracks leading from the bottom of the picture over a low hilltop, at which point a red-clad figure disappears at the slope. While this picture provokes curiosity and invites readers into the book, Wuerbs art sometimes seems better suited to gallery walls than a picture book, as it resists making narrative contributions or supporting characterization to instead present studies of details from the verses. For example, the opening lines evoking the stillness of Christmas Eve are juxtaposed with a dark, close-up of a lit candle in a holder, with nothing else depictednot even a mouse. If this art seems too far removed from the text, the next page with stockings hung by the chimney with care seems utterly redundant. Artistic decisions of the former ilk might provoke a mysterious air, but they may also stymie readers who find the results unfinished rather than engaging. Still, a later close-up of Santa (who presents White) is visually arresting, and a closing image, paint streaking to show Santas quick departure from the scene, is breathtaking in its simplicity.At turns beautiful and frustratingly opaque. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Publishers Weekly
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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.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Kirkus
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A reworking of a classic Christmas poem casts animals as the main characters in this picture book.All the mice are asleep on the night before Christmas, as readers and listeners familiar with Clement Clarke Moores celebrated poem know. Illustrator Dunn reinforces the opening line by depicting a mouse looking quite comfortable under a quilt, sound asleep. But rather than children being nestled in their beds, here there are baby bunnies, and readers will quickly realize that the star of this retelling is Papa Rabbit. He is the great-great-grandfather of Paisley Rabbit, the hero of Richardson and Dunns Paisley Rabbit and the Treehouse Contest(2018). Its Papa Rabbit, with his bright eyes, charming nose, and quirky nightcap, who reveals that St. Nick is a large polar bear delivering gifts to all. Richardsons witty changes keep the basics of the poem while introducing specific animal descriptions: His eyes how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry! / His nose was all wet and his cheeks were all hairy. As in the original, the narrator and St. Nick have a close encounter before the jolly visitor wishes a Merry Christmas to all. While the rabbit and St. Nick are both anthropomorphized, the reindeer remain in their traditional animal forms and harnesses. Dunns gorgeous paintings are enchanting, full of Christmas cheer, and the ingenious spin makes this a wonderful addition to any collection, even those with several versions of the poem.A clever, animal-centered adaptation that deserves to become a holiday favorite. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Horn Book
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Fiction: NF Age: K-3 Rather precious illustrations and the original text revive this classic in a little book fitting small hands. Horn Rating: Recommended, with minor flaws. Reviewed by: jm (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
The classic poem about Santa's appearance on Christmas Eve is presented in a large format with a contemporary setting and a jolly Santa sporting red, high-top sneakers. The title of this attractive interpretation is spelled out in raised silver letters on the cover; beneath it, Santa is poised to swoop down the chimney of a comfortably middle-class white family. He is gazing out directly at readers with a wave and a grin, seeming to invite them to follow him down the chimney and into the story. He is white and wearing the familiar red, fur-trimmed suit, but this Santa has jazzy, striped gloves, those stylish, red high-tops, and an unusual patchwork sack for the toys. The atmosphere of the illustrations is dark and a little spooky, with muted lighting and mysterious, curling wisps of mist that indicate the magical nature of Santa's journey. In the outdoor scenes, the text is set in white type, standing out against the midnight-blue evening sky. Several double-page spreads of the reindeer and sleigh in action use unusual perspectives to heighten the dramatic effect, creating a sense of speed and motion. The large trim size and dramatic pacing make this a fine choice for reading aloud to a group. Illustrated versions of the famous poem abound, but this rendition stands out for its large size, thoughtful design, and dramatic, atmospheric illustrations. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
A newly illustrated version of an old Christmas poem. The striking cover art for this reimagining of Moore’s poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas” (sometimes attributed to Henry Livingston) eschews typical visions of Santa and his reindeer silhouetted against the night sky. Instead, Wuerbs depicts a snowy landscape with sleigh-runner tracks leading from the bottom of the picture over a low hilltop, at which point a red-clad figure disappears at the slope. While this picture provokes curiosity and invites readers into the book, Wuerbs’ art sometimes seems better suited to gallery walls than a picture book, as it resists making narrative contributions or supporting characterization to instead present studies of details from the verses. For example, the opening lines evoking the stillness of Christmas Eve are juxtaposed with a dark, close-up of a lit candle in a holder, with nothing else depicted—not even a mouse. If this art seems too far removed from the text, the next page with stockings “hung by the chimney with care” seems utterly redundant. Artistic decisions of the former ilk might provoke a mysterious air, but they may also stymie readers who find the results unfinished rather than engaging. Still, a later close-up of Santa (who presents White) is visually arresting, and a closing image, paint streaking to show Santa’s quick departure from the scene, is breathtaking in its simplicity. At turns beautiful and frustratingly opaque. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Fiction: NF Age: K-3 A gaudily illustrated version of the classic poem shows a Victorian household, all frills and furbelows, receiving Santa's visit. Greeting-card art. Horn Rating: Marginal, seriously flawed, but with some redeeming quality. Reviewed by: aaf (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
Ages 4-8. The conceit setting this apart from myriad versions of Moore's beloved poem is that this "photographic album," circa 1901, has been in found under the floorboards of an old house. The book is designed in the manner of an old-fashioned scrapbook, with a cross-stitch design along the borders and buff-colored pages, stained a bit with age, on which photos are "pasted." On the first spread is a letter from Raquel Jaramillo (whose photos illustrate the text), relaying how she discovered the album and offering reasons why it was hidden: "Maybe they made a promise of secrecy to St. Nicholas himself." The sepia-toned photos of the family are not entirely successful. Despite appropriate hairstyles and costumes, the people don't look as if they were from the early twentieth century, perhaps it's because they are smiling. Happily, the other photos are grand. Children see Santa and his reindeer racing across the sky, the jolly old elf going down the chimney and then springing to his sleigh to continue his Christmas ride. The pictures, a combination of traditional and computer-enhanced photography, mix the magic of early photography with holiday sentiment. Yes, Virgina, there's room for another "The Night before Christmas." --Ilene Cooper
Publishers Weekly
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Moore's chestnut is given fresh-roasted flavor via Jaramillo's (Peter Pan) inventive framework. In a note to the reader, Jaramillo claims to have discovered a collection of photos from 1901. That "antique" family album shown here in grainy, glowingly lit sepia just happens to depict the same series of events found in Moore's famous verse and even captures St. Nick in the flesh. Jaramillo's happy "hoax" an intriguing blend of photography and computer effects may well create some new believers in Christmas magic. All ages. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book
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Fiction: NF Age: K-3 Wonderful details abound in Lobel's illustrations of Moore's poem -- the flowered carpeting, the angel ornament hanging from the light fixture, the Christmas trees on top of the Brooklyn Bridge -- all of which make the reader want to look again and again. A delightful bit of Christmas to share with children. Horn Rating: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration. Reviewed by: sw (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publishers Weekly
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Watson's utterly charming version of this old Christmas chestnut places it in a timeless, firmly earthbound setting full of movement. Each painting, contained in a box, settles crisply yet warmly in surrounding white space. The pictures themselves are cozy and detailed, but not cluttered; all rooms in this home look festive but fully lived-in. At first we see the habitat without its inhabitants--then toasty-skinned, pudgy folk spring ``from the bed to see what was the matter.'' When Santa comes down the chimney, dirt falls with him; household cats and dogs closely resemble the bright-eyed children. Vigorously realistic in her indoor scenes, Watson outdoes herself in small skyscapes tracing the jaunty trajectory of the reindeer, sled and Santa. She brings an original point of view to an oft-told tale. Ages 3-6. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book
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While some of the illustrations feature dramatic perspectives, the extreme close-ups of St. Nick and of his reindeer are over the top. The narrator, on the other hand, looks like he's stepped straight out of a Maxfield Parrish painting. A subplot in which Santa sees a childhood photo of the narrator dressed in buckaroo garb, then gives him a toy cowboy, adds some interest. Reviewed by: jmb (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus
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Moore's familiar 1822 poem in a handsome large format. Rand (Gloria Rand's Prince William, 1992, etc.) illustrates the text in period style, from the father's Victorian sideburns and nightcap to the round-bellied, red-suited St. Nick. But he has also added nice original touches, like the gold stars sprinkled over Santa's sleigh, and the colorful Lapp embroidery on the reindeers' harnesses. The realistic illustrations, all full-bleed spreads, are done in watercolor with an overlay of ground chalk. It's particularly effective for the snowy outdoor scenes, which glow with moonlight. Helping to bring Moore's poem to life is the careful attention paid to every detail: the children's patchwork bed quilts, the blue-and-white china on the mantel, and fancy gingerbread trimming the porch. A traditional but beautifully executed treatment of an old favorite. (Picture book. 4-7)
Publishers Weekly
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Veering from the convivial, scene-centered graphic interpretation often associated with this classic, Würbs offers a sparer take, narrowing each scene to softly focused images that are more suggestive than representational. The poem’s opening lines are accompanied by an image of a lone candle burning in a brass candleholder, and the sleigh’s rooftop landing shows two shadowy reindeer heads emerging from behind a foregrounded stone chimney. Santa’s visage is something of a mystery at first, his arrival down the chimney represented solely by sooty boot prints, and the top of his cap, surrounded by smoke, rendered alongside the description of his pipe. Building a sense of mystery until near the end, Würbs finally includes one fetching, full-frame portrait of a warmly smiling Santa. A solid choice for those in search of a sophisticated, minimalist artistic vision of Moore’s verse. Ages 6–up. (Oct.)
School Library Journal
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K-Gr 2-The full text of the familiar poem is illustrated in Engelbreit's crisply decorated style. A large trim size allows each highly embellished spread to hold a plethora of detail. From the opening stanza's view of the non-stirring mouse's hole (a cracked teacup is his bed, a potholder his doormat, and a paintbrush is his broom) and throughout the verses, the artist adds lots of elves and ornamentation. Santa is not pictured as "dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot"; he's wearing a checked coat with fur trim and what appear to be leather bowling shoes. He does twinkle a lot, though, and that may be enough for some readers.-S. P. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book
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Fiction: NF Age: K-3 Moore's poem is given an up-to-date but nonetheless cozy interpretation for today's young readers and listeners. Watson's illustrations, touched with gentle humor, are small in scale yet filled with detail, and the effect is an engaging combination of naivete and charm, reassuringly traditional but scaled to present-day sensibilities. Horn Rating: Superior, well above average. Reviewed by: mmb (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book
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Tudor's old-fashioned style is well suited to the classic Christmas poem. On each page, a picture filled with tiny, rustic details faces the text; both are framed by oval borders that give the artwork the appearance of tree ornaments. Most of the pictures feature animals, including the artist's familiar corgis. A welcome addition to holiday collections. Reviewed by: aes (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
Ages 3-6. Harness interprets Moore's classic poem in rather traditional fashion. Double-page paintings in deep, rich colors depict period scenes with the delight of an antiquarian; in fact, certain details make it unclear whether events are unfolding in the 1800s or in the present-day home of an antiques collector. Some will find the artwork oversweet, while others will see it as an apt expression of the sentimental side of the season. More to the point, children will enjoy the humorous details to be found amid the sedate clutter of the Victorian parlor. From the family pets to the ancestral portraits on the wall, the whole house seems magically animated by the arrival of St. Nick. Not a first purchase, perhaps, but a popular choice at a friendly price. ~--Carolyn Phelan
Kirkus
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Engelbreit (Over the River and through the Woods,1994) has legions of devoted adult fans who will adore sharing this oversized, traditional treatment of the beloved Christmas poem. The illustrations incorporate the artist's signature icons such as black-and-white checked borders, flowered armchairs, and cozy, snowbound cottages, along with Engelbreit's favorite Scotty dog. Her charismatic Santa is chubby and cheerful in his red plaid suit and hiking boots; his cute, pointy-eared elves of varying sizes and costumes (though all unfortunately seem to be male) assist Santa at every step and are also shown marching toward the sleigh on the endpapers. The entire story is told in double-page spreads with the text blocks set off in ivory rectangles, and each spread is full of toys and treats and tiny details of the Christmas season in a busy household. The dramatic "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!" finale shows the words in curly white writing flowing across a midnight blue sky, with Santa and the reindeer in mid-flight silhouetted against a full moon. Engelbreit fans will find this a delectable holiday treat. (Picture book. 3-6)
School Library Journal
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PreS-K-An unexciting retread. In a small, square format, the text has been illustrated with basic images from the poem, giving them a Victorian rendering that adds no character, but strongly reinforces a generic look and feel. Not distinguished enough for most library collections, this title will find its way into homes as an impulse purchase at holiday time.-A.C. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book
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Best known for her calendars, greeting cards and other gift items, Engelbreit overwhelms Moore's poem, using it as captions for her Christmas art. Double-page spreads are bordered by two frames, colorful fairies show up everywhere, and readers may have difficulty finding Santa Claus on the visually cluttered pages. Strictly for Engelbreit collectors. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
There's fanciful magic in Watson's version, which features almost photo-realistic paintings of Santa and his wild, mechanical sleigh: one of the most amusing spreads shows the sleigh's cockpit dashboard, complete with an "Elf Com" button and a hot-beverage dispenser. A team of diverse elves (or gnomes?) helps with the work, from dusting the chimney soot from Santa to overseeing present distribution with a tiny megaphone. Full of wonder, whimsy, and cheer, this easily earns a place on the crowded holiday shelves. --Gillian Engberg Copyright 2006 Booklist
Horn Book
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Employing both conventional and computer-enhanced photography, Jaramillo puts a new face on the classic poem. In her ""snapshots,"" allegedly taken during St. Nick's visit to the Gordon family in 1901, a few of the people look a little self-conscious. However, the sepia-toned photos, with their ragged edges and cracked surfaces, have a mysterious, old-fashioned air that complements the text. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
School Library Journal
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PreS-Gr 2-Moore's beloved Christmas poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" receives new treatment from illustrator Caparo. The house is quiet and everyone sound asleep when the father of the family wakes to a commotion and runs to investigate. Lo and behold, St. Nick and his retinue of reindeer are on the roof. Santa pops down the chimney, stuffs stockings as he puffs on a pipe, and exits via chimney as quickly as he arrived, exclaiming, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" Caparo's digital paintings capture the nighttime stillness of the house in plums and yellows; the winter landscape is rendered in icy blues and swirling snow. The action is driven by the father, agape with wonder, his bright-eyed Jack Russell terrier, and Santa, of course. St. Nick's arrival with Blitzen et al. is the dramatic highlight, and Santa's footwear gets an update with jaunty red high-tops. This is a solid, though not particularly inventive take, on a Christmas classic that has been reinterpreted ad infinitum. Young readers will appreciate the lush illustrations and Santa's cheeky jollity. VERDICT An additional purchase for libraries in need of fresh holiday content.-Shanna Kim, Los Angeles Public Library © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
School Library Journal
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K-Gr 5 No nostalgia here! Marshall's cartoon-like illustrations for Moore's well-known and much-loved poem are thoroughly modern, often very funny and typical of the artist. A cozy Cape Cod house sits in the snow with the unstirring mouse nestled in the bright green wreath on its door. Plump dogs, cats, a chicken (and even a mouse) abound in the comfortably cluttered house in which stockings are hung and people sleep. The animals join Papa as he watches the arrival of the plump old elf down the road and up to the roof. After his unceremonious entrance but before his gift distribution, St. Nick (in his cowboy boots with stars) poses for a photograph taken by the mouse and raids the refrigerator with his reindeer hungrily looking on. As St. Nick's final wish for a happy Christmas is exclaimed, the animals settle down again amid the bountiful and brightly decorated packages. Although the format is predictable (one page of text next to a one-page illustration), this is a fresh look at an old narrative. It may not appeal to everyone, but should cause all (except perhaps Scrooges) to chuckle. Maria B. Salvadore , District of Columbia Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book
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First published in 1984, Lobel's interpretation of Moore's classic poem is soothing and peaceful. Dramatically moonlit views of a snow-covered city streetscape give way to richly colored, cozy interior scenes of a turn-of-the-twentieth-century brownstone. We get glimpses of family members sleeping snug in their quilt-covered beds; we see family portraits (one of which bears a strong resemblance to Arnold Lobel) on the walls; a fireplace hung with stockings; a Christmas tree adorned with candles. The only face shown is Santa's, as that traditionally portrayed gent goes about his toy-delivering business. A gorgeous aerial view of the Brooklyn Bridge completes the book. (c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publishers Weekly
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Lisbeth Zwerger envisions the children all snug in their bed with a Victorian backdrop and a Santa who alights on city townhouses in The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Publishers Weekly
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Folk artist and preacher Finster infuses his interpretation of the traditional holiday poem with his characteristic evangelical verve. Patterned with what look to be brush doodlings, his surreal compositions create a psychedelic party mood that contrasts sharply with the rather staid verse. Each spread is framed by a running word-border of such Finster preachings as "I am trying to get people back to God before the end of the earths [sic] planet." An eccentric dose of holiday cheer. All ages. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
School Library Journal
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PreS Up-Dedicated fans of the classic poem will enjoy many aspects of this newly illustrated version. Jaramillo has created a faux photo album of St. Nick's visit to the Gordon family in 1901, which she claims to have found under the floorboards of her old house. The artwork, which combines traditional and computer-enhanced photography, features ragged-edged, sepia-colored snapshots (supposedly taken by Uncle Russell), album pages with a charming period border, and aged tape labels (written by the youngest Gordon). Jaramillo has broken some of the conventions of the story: the whole family goes downstairs to investigate, and strangely Santa seems to hover in one photo. At times the photos are enchanting, capturing the mystery and wonder of past times and the magic of flying reindeer. At other times the "Victorian family" is stiffly posed and a touch too modern. This lush "historic" view will appeal to fans of the photographer and collectors of picture-book editions of the poem.-A. C. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book
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Fiction: NF Age: K-3 Using double-page spreads for each illustration, Rand creates an attractive, but not strikingly original, interpretation of the classic Christmas poem. He maintains its traditional nineteenth-century setting and employs moonlight dramatically in the outdoor scenes while keeping the indoor pictures appropriately darker. Horn Rating: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration. Reviewed by: pr (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book
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Fiction: NF Age: K-3 Lovely, detailed, three-dimensional shadow boxes illustrate the traditional Christmas verse. The small, attractive book has interesting and fairly sturdy paper engineering. Horn Rating: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration. Reviewed by: lpd (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book
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Fiction: NF Age: K-3 Folk artist Finster joins the legions who have illustrated Moore's classic Christmas poem. The striking childlike paintings are busy and colorful but have a frenetic, overwhelming quality. The hand-lettered text is bordered by Finster's often enigmatic spiritual messages, creating a jarring juxtaposition of lighthearted holiday fare and proselytism. This idiosyncratic volume is likely to appeal most to folk-art fans. Horn Rating: Marginal, seriously flawed, but with some redeeming quality. Reviewed by: cls (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
School Library Journal
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PreS-Gr 3-Whatley gives the Christmas classic a traditional New England setting and lively characterizations of St. Nick, his trusty team, and the man of the house (who here interacts with and receives a present from the Christmas Eve visitor). The bold, realistically rendered watercolors are done on vibrant full-page spreads and have sweeping details that add another dimension to the beloved poem. With dynamic verve, this version captures the rush of the reindeer, the caring and giving nature of St. Nick, and the surprised delight of the father.-A.C. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publishers Weekly
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There are almost endless editions of Moore's poem, each as envisioned by a particular illustrator. The number and variety must make it difficult for people to choose the one just right to be part of their Chrismas celebrations. But Gustafson's full-color paintings, soaked in nostalgia, make his book a shoo-in favorite for lovers of tradition. In the best, old-fashioned mode, the narrator's house is garlanded with greenery and berries; the plump, tall tree glitters with candlelight; ``Mama in her kerchief and I in my cap'' evoke the last century and Santa Claus is fat, gorgeously dressed in scarlet velvet and ermine, ``a right jolly old elf'' with a delicious grin trained on the astonished observer. (All ages) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
