The Night Before Christmas

First published in 1984, Lobel’s interpretatons of Moore’s classic poem is soothing and peaceful. Dramatically moonlit views of a snow-covered city streetscape give way to richly colored, cozy interior scenes of a turn-of-the-twentiethcentury brownstone. We get glimpses of family members sleeping snug in their quilt-covered beds; we see family portraits (one of which bears a strong resemblance to Arnold Lobel) on the walls; a fireplace hung with stockings; a Christmas tree adorned with candles. The only face shown is Santa’s, as that traditionally portrayed gent goes about his toy-delivering business. A gorgeous aerial view of the Brooklyn Bridge completes the book. MARTHA V. PARRAVANO – Horn Book Magazine * November/December 2020 *

Clement C. Moore was born in New York City in 1779. During his lifetime, he wrote in a variety of forms, including biography, translation, fiction, and poetry. He is perhaps most famous for his poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” which was first published anonymously in 1823, and later became known as “The Night Before Christmas.” The first few lines of this poem are some of the best-known verses of American literature and Moore’s descriptions of Santa Claus have contributed significantly to our conception of him. Moore died in 1863, but his legacy will live on forever.

Anita Lobel’s name is synonymous with the best in children’s literature. She is the creator of such classics as Alison’s Zinnia and Away from Home, and she received a Caldecott Honor for her illustrations in On Market Street. She is the creator of three books featuring her cat, Nini: One Lighthouse, One Moon; Nini Lost and Found; and Nini Here and There. She also wrote Ducks on the Road, which The Horn Book called “cozy.” Her childhood memoir, No Pretty Pictures: A Child of War, was a finalist for the National Book Award. Anita Lobel lives in New York City.

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