Corinne Malvern's illustrations for Moore's poem remind me a bit of the Coca Cola version of Santa Claus that would have been pervasive in ads for nearly two decades before this book came into print.

It's nicely done, though I do wonder about this page. Is it just me or does Santa's wink combine with the flipped up hem of his jacket to give off a tone a little more sexual than seasonal? It's probably just me.


https://i.imgur.com/rs1wOf7.jpg ( )

The Night Before Christmas, illustrated by Corinne Malvern.

Clement C. Moore's delightful Christmas poem, which was originally published in 1823, and which was quite influential, in forming the current idea and image of Santa Claus, is here presented as a Little Golden Book, with the accompanying illustrations of Corinne Malvern. The poetic text reads delightfully (as always), while the artwork is colorful and cute, with a vintage sensibility...

This version of The Night Before Christmas was first published by Little Golden Books in 1949, and seems to have been in print ever since. I think I might have encountered it as a girl, as the artwork looks so familiar to me. Then again, given the fact that Malvern also illustrated Christmas Carols, another Little Golden Book first published in 1946, which I happened to read last year, perhaps the artwork simply looks familiar because I have encountered the illustrator before. Whatever the case may be, this is a sweetly old-fashioned presentation of a holiday favorite, one I would recommend to those looking for engaging Christmas books for the younger picture-book audience. ( )

Everyone has read this story more than likely but it is good to include in school because teachers can add great Christmas activities with it. Children may also could memorize the whole book bc it rhymes. ( )

The original poem of The Night Before Christmas - the illustrations are bright, and I love the old style/fashion that is used in them. ( )

The Night Before Christmas
“The Night Before Christmas” by Clemente Clarke Moore is a classic! Every child who celebrates Christmas should experience this story. It is tradition in our house to read this book every Christmas Eve after putting cookies out on Christmas Eve. The story brings the magic of Christmas Eve to life with pictures of St. Nicholas delivering toys to all the children. The language is descriptive, “the children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads”. Each page has text and the pictures completely describe what is written. When the text describes Santa “his eyes how they twinkled, his dimples, how merry” the illustration shows Santa just as described. Additionally, the rhyming sequence has a pattern that flows through the story. The plot is organized with the children in bed and follows through sequentially until Santa has delivered all the toys and wishes “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night”. The big idea is to tell the story of Santa delivering toys on Christmas Eve. ( )