The Night Before Christmas: 10 Beautiful Editions
Welcome to my Holiday Gift Guide: The Night Before Christmas!
Most people who celebrate Christmas know The Night Before Christmas poem well and can recite parts, or all of it, by heart. The books below were selected for their wonderful illustrations which are a part of what makes this book a treasure and heirloom. I chose several different styles of illustration - traditional to contemporary - and in between. I hope you see one you like!
Like comets they flew!
Illustrated by Mary Engelbreit
Illustrated by Cheryl Harness
Illustrated by Eric Puybaret
CD by PETER, PAUL AND MARY INCLUDED
About the Poem's Author
Clement C. Moore
Hard to believe, but the 19th-century author who left us an image of a fat, jolly, white-bearded St. Nicholas was known as a serious, straitlaced professor at the General Theological Seminary in New York City. Before publishing his now famous poem Clement C. Moore had published a book called A Compendious Lexicon of the Hebrew Language (2 volumes).
Even though Moore was kind of a stiff, he had children. The poem was written for them.
Illustrated by Jan Brett
Illustrated by Jean Hirashima
A "Mere Trifle"
Clement Moore refused to have his poem published even though those who read it loved it. He said publishing it was beneath his dignity. However, the following Christmas "A Visit from St. Nicholas" was submitted by a family member to an out-of-town newspaper. The poem was an instant hit but Moore did not acknowledge authorship until 15 years later. He called the poem "a mere trifle."
Twas the Night Before Christmas
Illustrated by Will Moses
Intended as a gift book, it includes a three-dimensional cardboard cut-out tree ornament of Santa in his sleigh.
Illustrated by Gyo Fujikawa
Illustrated by Richard Jesse Watson
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.
Legend tells us that Moore composed "A Visit from St. Nicholas" for his family on Christmas Eve of 1822, during a sleigh-ride. His inspiration was, theoretically, the roly-poly Dutchman driving his sleigh. It's more probable that other literary works of the day inspired Moore.