"The Night Before Christmas" by Clement C. Moore is a poem that many people have memorized and love. This poem tells the story of what happens on the night of Christmas Eve. Everyone in the house is sound asleep. Until the father wakes up from a clatter outside. He looks outside the window and witnesses a sleigh, eight reindeers, and St. Nick. St. Nick then enters the house, eats cookies, and fills the stockings. In the end, he flies away on his sleigh to go deliver more presents and says the famous quote, "Happy Christmas to all. And to all a good night". Using this classic poem, James Marshall brings the story to life with his witty and colorful illustrations. The pictures are well detailed and fit the classic story perfectly. This is a great poem to use when teaching poetry to children. The story is not only entertaining, but it is also easy to understand from the rhythmic text. "The Night Before Christmas" is an adorable story and will definitely put the readers in the Christmas spirit. ( )

This classic Christmas story is a perfect book to read to a class right before Christmas break. This story talkks about what goes on in an everyday house the night before Christmas. This is one a my favorite stories still today. I think it is suitable for all ages. The rhyming is carried throughout the story and sure enough, santa leaves a heap of gifts for the children, nussled safe in their beds. ( )

First lines:
'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

A classic edition with illustrations by Corinne Malvern. I found these illustrations to be a little dated for today. The words though, are timeless.

This edition still has the reference to Santa's pipe and smoke. ( )

I love James Marshall, but I don't think his style works with this poem. I don't hate it, but I sure don't love it. ( )

Children's Fiction, Picture Books, Christmas