The Night Before Christmas

By A. E. Kennedy and Clement Clarke Moore

Many people know that famous opening line: “‘Twas the night before Christmas and all thro’ the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” Clement Clarke Moore’s timeless poem "Night Before Christmas," originally titled “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” has passed from generation to generation since it was published nearly two hundred years ago.

Many consider it to be the quintessential Christmas Eve bedtime story. It has been featured in countless film, theater, and musical adaptations, among other mediums, and has been said to be “arguably the best-known verses written by an American.”

Revisit this Christmas Eve classic with your child in a stunning repackaged and redesigned edition, featuring beautiful vintage art by A. E. Kennedy that will charm and captivate readers both young and old just before Santa arrives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Racehorse for Young Readers
• Release date: Oct 31, 2017
• ISBN: 9781631581540

Reviews for The Night Before Christmas

[ahernandez91 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A Christmas classic that almost all children are familiar with. It is the night before Christmas and everything is closed, people are sleeping waiting for the arrival of Saint Nicholas. As a child I always loved Christmas books, the holiday cheer, the excitement, and the love- therefore I know in the classroom students will get antsy around the holidays. This would be a great book to read around Christmas, not only for fun, but for connecting it with the poetry and the rhymes that the book is all about. The acrylic illustrations are just beautiful and are sure the keep the readers attention.

[lmeza-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's Jan Brett, what can I say?

[sharlenehsmith · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My Christmas Fave!
I listened to the ambience & sound effects whilst reading this book, from the app 'Booktrack'. The app is great. It takes how fast you turn the page to time when you hear the effects. It's really great and adds to the whole reading experience.

[mccin68 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful illustrations paired with the classic poem.

[wickedshizuku · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read this with my daughter at a Night Before Christmas function at her school. It was an enjoyable time reading to five other children as well. This is the classic tale that I'm sure anyone who celebrates Christmas has heard. The illustrations are nice, and the poetry is lovely. While reading this it's nice to curl up with your child and share a nice mug of hot chocolate. Cheers and Happy Holiday Readings!

[cynical_ames · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I try to read this every year as it never fails to return me to my 5-year-old self, filled with excitement over the great and powerful Santa's impending visit. The catchy rhythm and rhyme of this delightful poem is contagious. I used to repeat it often as a child until the first lines were branded into my brain:
''Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.'
It always leaves me with a warm and satisfied glow as I read the last words:

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

[kaethe_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

1/1/2000 I think it most unlikely that Clement Clarke Moore wrote the original poem, although I do understand why he continues to be credited. And I understand why the title used is incorrect, but common. But there's some editing of the text, and that really annoys me. I do think that Brett's pictures are lovely and amusing, and that's why I read the book every year, and then put it away with the other holiday books.

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2008 Dec 18

The Possum was feeling the spirit last night, and also, couldn't decide what big book she wanted me to start next. So, she broke out the Jan Brett copy of the poem attributed to Moore, from among our numerous versions. However, the Brett version says "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Christmas", so it feels fake to her.

On the other hand, Brett's illustrations are always fun, with lots going on to look at.

2009 January 1
2010 December 24

*** The Possum was feeling the spirit last night, and also, couldn't decide what big book she wanted me to start next. So, she broke out the Jan Brett copy of the poem attributed to Moore, from among our numerous versions. However, the Brett version says "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Christmas", so it feels fake to her.

On the other hand, Brett's illustrations are always fun, with lots going on to look at.

[tterry6901 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The book tells the story of Christmas Eve and how Santa creeps very quietly to deliver presents. The man in the story says that he hears him and he sees him fly away calling out his raindeer and telling everyone Merry Christmas!The story is a classic and is something I read to my family every year. The colors and pictures are very detailed and hopefully this will be a book I can pass down to my daughter.Children try and hold onto the fantasy of Santa Claus as long as possible and this book is very good at holding their spirits just a little longer.When reading this story it would be beneficial to really get the kids into the book. Read a little softer than normal and show excitement at the right places. If you really put your beliefs in the book you can really hold a child's hope just a little longer.

[jessy555_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Genre: PoetryCritique of Genre: This is a wonderful example of poetry because it flows nicely with a lot of rhyming words such as, nose and rose or foot and soot. You can get a rhythm going from the start and it continues to flow right through to the end. Media: acrylic