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'Twas the Night Before Christmas

(2009, Fiction - Holiday, Written by Clement Clarke Moore, Illustrated by Jon Goodell)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 4; suggested age 4.

  • Is it any good?

    2.0

  • Common Sense says

    Gimmick doesn’t enhance holiday classic.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 4 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.

  • Messages:

    The father timidly spies on Santa, who acknowledges him wordlessly but kindly.

  • Role models:

    Santa, of course, is a cheerful, energetic character.

  • Illustrations:

    The static illustrations are pleasant enough, but the moving images are difficult to see.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Parents need to know there’s nothing of concern in this rendering of the well-known holiday poem. Young children may need some help understanding some of the language -- the poem was written nearly 200 years ago -- but they’ll have no trouble understanding the story. Santa smokes a pipe as he works.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about similes and descriptive language. Identify them throughout the poem -- cheeks like roses, nose like a cherry, etc. Try writing a short Christmas story together and see what similes you can come up with.
  • Families can also talk about books you always read together. Is a version of this story a holiday tradition? Are there movies or TV specials you always watch together? What makes them stand the test of time?
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