The Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse . . Clement Moore's popular festive poem about a visit from Santa Claus, illustrated in glowing colour by Tomie dePaola, is a delight to share with children. Here is a delightful poem that tells the story of the night before Christmas, when Santa Claus arrives with his reindeer and clambers down the chimney to fill the stockings by the hearth. The text and pictures combine to capture the feeling of magic and excitement, and give a real sense of warmth and Christmas spirit. Tomie dePaola has set the poem in the 1840s, using his own home in a small New Hampshire village as a model. The borders to the pages are based on designs from New England quilts, giving the book a wonderfully nostalgic feel.