The Night Before Christmas

The Night Before Christmas

Beloved illustrator Holly Hobbie offers a timeless take on the best-known Christmas poem of all time. In the twilight hours of Christmas Eve, a hushed world enveloped in moonlit snow waits for the soft tinkling of sleigh bells to announce the most magical night of the year. Then comes a thump on the rooftop, a scratching in the chimney, and suddenly--Santa Claus appears! In her fresh imagining of Clement C. Moore's enduring poem, acclaimed master watercolorist Holly Hobbie captures the magic of this timeless tale. Her vision of the night before Christmas glows with warmth and feeling, and features the delightful addition of a child's-eye view, which magnifies the wonder of this exciting, mysterious time. From School Library Journal PreS-Gr 3-An elegant, almost Art Deco sensibility and a multitude of viewpoints make this version of the holiday classic stand out. Hobbie uses transparent watercolor, pen and ink, and gouache on watercolor paper to good effect, with plenty of white space. Readers see the story from the perspective of a fox, Papa (sans nightcap), an enterprising toddler, and the pet cat, and a view from overhead. The illustrations will carry with a fairly large audience, but up-close inspection offers even more enjoyment, such as the matching astonishment on the faces of father and child, Santa's grandfatherly twinkle, even what looks like amusement on the faces of the reindeer. A brief biography of Moore and an artist's note are appended. A fine edition to freshen up holiday collections.-Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library ?(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. From Booklist In bed with three older siblings, a toddler awakens, looks out the window, and sees a flying sleigh. He makes his way downstairs, where he peeks around a chair to watch St. Nicholas at work. The watercolor, gouache, and ink illustrations glow with warmth, wonder, and beauty in cozy domestic scenes and moonlit landscapes. From the fine quality of the paper to the lovely printed cover beneath the book?s jacket, this handsome picture book shows meticulous attention to detail. An appended section offers some historical background on Moore and the poem, first published in 1823, while an artist?s note comments on Hobbie?s technique and her approach to the work. Though most libraries are well supplied with picture books illustrating Moore?s classic, this fresh yet traditional interpretation is a rewarding choice to share with children. Preschool-Grade 2. --Carolyn Phelan Review "Hobbie's is one of the most attractive and engaging versions of Moore's poem, an edition to be savored, saved and shared."? The New York Times * "There is a hushed, magical feeling in Hobbie's masterful illustrations.... Every element of the book's thoughtful design is skillfully chosen.... One to savor over and over, year after year."? Kirkus Reviews, starred review * "A radiant, gorgeously illustrated rendition."? Publishers Weekly, starred review "Holly Hobbie has outdone herself.... Utterly enchanting."? The Wall Street Journal "This version of the holiday classic stand[s] out.... A fine edition to freshen up holiday collections."? School Library Journal "The watercolor, pen-and-ink, and gouache illustrations...capture light wonderfully."? The Horn Book About the Author Holly Hobbie has worked as an artist for more than thirty years and is the author of eleven highly acclaimed Toot & Puddle picture books as well as Gem, Fanny, Fanny and Annabelle, and Everything but the Horse. She has also written an illustrated memoir, The Art of Holly Hobbie.