The Night Before Christmas

Description

From the creator of Strega Nona, the perfect stocking stuffer version of a beloved Christmas tale. A perfect stocking-stuffer edition of a beloved Christmas classic, from the creator of Strega Nona and Quiet. With warm colors and cozy art, award-winning artist Tomie dePaola brings the beloved holiday poem to life. Detailed decorations and family portraits hang on the walls of a turn of the 19th century New England home as the family sleeps, snuggled into cozy geometric quilts-until the clatter of little hooves on the roof wakes them. Rosy-cheeked St. Nicholas appears, filling the stockings with dolls and blocks, toy animals and candy canes, before taking off over the snow-capped hills in his sleigh. Framed by borders inspired by traditional New England quilts, the warm illustrations are full of cheerful details kids will love to pore over. Called "a shareable Christmas treasure" in a Booklist starred review, The Night Before Christmas was Tomie dePaola's 100th book when it was originally published. A family favorite for more than thirty years, this beautiful rendition of a Christmas favorite is still a perfect read-aloud for snowy nights-and now, a perfect board book stocking stuffer, in just the right size for young readers to enjoy.

Clement Moore (1779 - 1863) was a professor of classics at General Theological Seminary in New York. He wrote The Night Before Christmas, originally titled A Visit from St. Nicholas, for his children in 1822. Tomie dePaola is the beloved Caldecott Honor- and Newbery Honor-winning author and/or illustrator of close to 250 books, including Strega Nona and Quiet. When The Night Before Christmas was originally published, it was Tomie's 100th book. Tomie loved reading and books from an early age and knew, when he was four, that he wanted to write and illustrate stories when he grew up. He is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Smithson Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, the New Hampshire's Governor's Arts Award of Living Treasure. the Regina Medal from the Catholic Library Association, and the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota. He lives in New Hampshire.

"From first to last, the book is a visual delight . . . A singular feat"-Publishers Weekly "The familiar words of Moore's 1820 poem need no elaboration, but this newly illustrated full-color edition can be heaped unreservedly with praise. . . . a shareable Christmas treasure."-Booklist, Starred Review "ideal for group viewing in a story hour."-School Library Journal