'Twas the Night Before Christmas

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Author(s)

Clement C. Moore

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Matt Tavares

Publisher

Candlewick

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

September 13, 2022

ISBN

978-1536217995

Buy This Book

Exquisitely detailed drawings by Matt Tavares embody the spirit of a magical night now in a lavish, full-size gift edition marking the two-hundredth anniversary of the classic poem.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

Once upon a time, children imagined St. Nicholas as a stern, skinny bishop who was as likely to dole out discipline as Christmas presents. But thanks to the poem “Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas”—written by Clement C. Moore in 1822 and published the next year in the Troy Sentinel—a plumper, merrier St. Nick was born, transformed into the sleigh-riding, chimney-diving jolly old elf we now call Santa Claus. With gorgeous monochrome illustrations by Matt Tavares that are meticulously true to pre-Victorian times, this reissue of the holiday favorite ’Twas the Night Before Christmas Or Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas honors the poem’s original language in a definitive keepsake volume.

Editor review

1 review

Beautiful Illustrations

October 07, 2022

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0

Characters

5.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS is a classic Christmas story that has been passed down from generation to generation. It's about one man's encounter with St. Nicholas and while it's been told in many different fashions, this book sticks to the original wording from 1823. It flows as smooth as a melody of a song and makes for a great bedtime story during the holiday season.

There are many retellings of The Night Before Christmas, but I love the history lesson at the beginning of this one. The reader learns where this rumor began and I didn't realize it was as early as 1823. It's also fascinating that the first place it was published was as a newspaper article. The illustrations are beautifully detailed in black and white which isn't too stimulating to the eye. This also sets that soothing tone to settle children down in bed so St. Nicholas doesn't skip over their house!

Final Verdict: Of all the Night Before Christmas stories I've read, this one is hands down my favorite. I love the stunning illustrations and the lyrical writing. The history lesson gives it that added bonus for both parents and their children.