Parents' Guide to

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

By Darienne Stewart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Gimmick doesn’t enhance holiday classic.

Book Clement Clarke Moore Holiday 2009
'Twas the Night Before Christmas Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 2+

Based on 2 parent reviews

lyons-clare@hotmail.com
[email protected] Adult
November 16, 2017
age 2+

An absolute classic

This is a poem that every little boy and every little girl should have read to them the night before Christmas. Magical and brilliant imagery.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Lowe's man
Lowe's man Adult
June 30, 2016
age 2+

May or may not appeal to today's kids, but no problem areas either.

While I can't say anything about the edition to which you're referring, I'm familiar with the original classic. While today's youngsters may find this book corny, there's nothing offensive here. Except, that is, for the pipe, which wasn't offensive when the poem came out, centuries before it became known that smoking isn't good for you.
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What's the Story?

The text is the treasured poem by Clement Clarke Moore, “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” On Christmas Eve, as a family settles down to sleep, the father hears a noise outside and spies Santa’s sleigh in the sky. Moore’s description of the wordless encounter between the father and Santa by the Christmas tree has become an enduring portrait of Santa Claus.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

“A Visit from St. Nicholas” has been reproduced in a great many forms; and here it is packaged with what the publishers call AniMotion technology; unfortunately, it just doesn't work.

Many of the pages feature a full-color image that appears to move beneath a black-striped layer of acetate. The technique is reminiscent of a zoetrope. As readers turn the pages, stars twinkle, a cat startles, Santa’s belly ripples with laughter. It’s a fun idea, but the animations are dark and hard to see, and the static images are rather ho-ho-hum. The novelty -- and appeal -- is short-lived. The static illustrations are pleasant enough, but the moving images are difficult to see.

Talk to Your Kids 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?

Book Details

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