The Night Before Christmas

by Lisbeth Zwerger (Illustrator)

Overview

’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house . . .

Clement Clarke Moore’s timeless poem about Christmas Eve is beautifully brought to life by illustrator Lisbeth Zwerger and her unique interpretation of Santa’s fantastic midnight visit. The poem—originally titled, “A Visit from St. Nicholas”—is in large part responsible for the conception of the Santa Claus recognized today and is artistically rendered in this picture book full of holiday spirit.

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789888240883
Publisher:	minedition
Publication date:	10/01/2014
Series:	The Carlotta Carlyle Mysteries
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 7.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Clement Clarke Moore was a professor of Oriental and Greek literature and the author of “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” which later became “The Night Before Christmas.” Lisbeth Zwerger is one of the most highly regarded illustrators of children’s books and was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1990 to recognize her lifetime contribution to children’s literature. She is the author and illustrator of numerous books, including The Little Mermaid and Tales from the Brothers Grimm.

Editorial Reviews

"Classic illustrations convey the magic of St. Nick’s visit, from the shadows cast by his sleigh to the twinkling eyes and rosy cheeks of his friendly face." —childrensandteensbookconnection.wordpress.com

"I’m always pleased to see Zwerger’s artwork. She’s one of those illustrators who made me want to study children’s literature…. In the Foreword, Peter Sís writes: 'Her art flows and shines.' Yes, what he said." —Julie Danielson, blaine.org

From the Publisher

With scores of illustrated editions of Moore’s well-known poem, it is hard to re-envision it in a way that will appeal to readers today. This little jewel does a great job of interpreting the classic text while engaging readers accustomed to the trappings of the twentieth century. The first scene shows a mouse snuggled into his bed with lightly penciled snowflakes decorating the top corner of the page. As the story progresses, the snowflakes become more distinct and are revealed by the end of the book to be children, elves, and reindeer dancing in circles. Santa’s costume is much less Americanized than the costumes seen on most Santas in children’s books and he sits in a sleigh that has toys on gold ribbons streaming behind him. The sleigh is guided by Santa and his elves, and pulled by eight very individual reindeer. The illustrations are rendered in watercolor in soft pastels, contributing to the dreamlike quality of the book. The smaller size of this edition is also attractive, since younger readers can hold it easily. Reviewer: Ellen Welty; Ages 3 to 5.

Children's Literature - Ellen Welty