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Readers of all ages will be thrilled with the newest version of Clement Clarke Moore’s traditional Christmas poem, “Twas the Night before Christmas.” In The Night Before Christmas, Moore’s poem is paired with the joyous illustrations of Lisbeth Zwerger to produce a tiny but delightful interpretation of the iconic Christmas poem.
There are many versions of Clement Moore’s famous poem; however, this new edition is truly unique because of the inspired illustrations of Lisbeth Zwerger. Her paintings captivate the reader through subtle style and interesting color choices. Set in a traditional Victorian townhouse, readers are taken back to a much gentler time where children sleep deeply on Christmas Eve while St. Nicholas appears with his eight tiny reindeer.
Zwerger’s paintings are full of intricate details. The six children of the house are fast asleep, while the mouse of the house is also asleep in his red striped pyjamas. The parents are woken from their sleep by a “clatter” on the lawn. The father in his nightcap springs “from the bed to see what was the matter,” while the mother remains in the canopy bed. St. Nicholas has arrived with his eight tiny reindeer. The illustration shows them joyfully dancing and prancing.
Zwerger uses muted colors except for the color red which recurs throughout the book. Her unique interpretation of St. Nicholas as a short but kindly looking grandfather figure dressed entirely in red clothing will thrill readers of all ages.
Lisbeth Zwerger is an internationally recognized illustrator of classic fairy tales. She studied art in Vienna where she met her husband, John Rowe, a fellow artist and children’s book author. Her children’s books Noah’s Ark (1997), The Wizard of Oz (1996) and Little Red Cap (1993) were selected by the New York Times as “Best Illustrated Books of the Year.” In 1990, she won the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Medal.
Of course, Clement Clarke Moore’s text is always a pleasure to read. Moore originally wrote this poem for his own children on Christmas Eve 1822. Moore was born in New York City and became a professor of oriental and Greek literature. His Christmas poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” was published anonymously without his permission in 1823. It was not until 1844, when he published Poems, that he admitted writing this poem.
Moore wrote several other books but remains famous to this day for the poem about St. Nicholas. His vivid descriptions of an elderly St. Nicholas and his reindeer have delighted generations of children and their parents. It has become a must-read for parents putting their excited children to sleep on Christmas Eve, with echoes of St. Nicholas wishing them
Merry Christmas to All
And to All a Good Night.
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The Night Before Christmas