The Night Before Christmas by Clement C Moore and Max Marshall
| The Night Before Christmas by Clement C Moore and Max Marshall | |
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| Category: Children's Rhymes and Verse | |
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Reviewer: Zoe Morris
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| Summary: The classic story retold with beautiful full colour illustrations. Perfect. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 32 | Date: September 2015 |
| Publisher: Little Tiger Press | |
| ISBN: 978-1848959125 | |
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Everyone knows the classic story of the night before Christmas, but as a child I never had it in a standalone book like this and, it seems, I never knew there was quite as much to the tale. If you don't already own a version, this new release is a must buy for the presentation alone.
It all starts so well. There is glitter on the cover. It sparkles. And it's bumpy to touch which is always fun. Santa is looking happy but serious (glasses on, he's clearly paying attention to the driving) and the reindeer are racing ahead, evidently keen to get on their way. Inside, the story jumps straight in: 'T'was the night before Christmas when all through the house…
This story is nothing if not magical. You know how it goes: Santa and the reindeer arrive at a house on Christmas Eve and try to go about their business with the occupants unaware, but one little boy wakes up and can't help but notice their presence (and their presents). This book takes the already sweet story and showers it with incredible illustrations that would melt even Scrooge's heart. It's another world where everything is in hypercolour, from the buildings to the bedspreads. The house is super cosy, and we won't dwell on the fact that a fire is still burning in the hearth while the family sleep upstairs. The Christmas tree is fabulous and an impressive size, and while the stockings are a bit small, they do look like they might stretch a little. All in all, it looks like a wonderful place to live for lucky Sam and Ruby.
The story is the original and it continues to work well even though some aspects age it somewhat: not many people wear sleeping caps anymore but because the text refers to this, I'm glad the illustrations reflected it. The language also, has not been changed, and there may be some new vocabulary for them, like lustre and coursers, though it's never an issue as the pictures explain so well what is going on.
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending us this book. It may be a school night in mid-October, but I loved reading this book and it immediately got me in the Christmas spirit. There are some things you shouldn't mess with and this is one of them. A timeless story, this edition simply helps bring it alive for the next generation. Truly wonderful.
Other Christmas reads we can recommend include Surprise by Jonathan Litton and Fhiona Galloway and the adorable The Christmas Carrot by Allan Plenderleith
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You can read more book reviews or buy The Night Before Christmas by Clement C Moore and Max Marshall at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy The Night Before Christmas by Clement C Moore and Max Marshall at Amazon.com.
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