Twas the Night Before Christmas

September 1, 2012
News flash: Santa quits smoking! This version of the famous Christmas poem has one unique feature: The references to Santa's pipe and the smoke that "encircled his head like a wreath" have been edited out of the text. Purists may decry mucking about with a beloved classic, but plenty of parents might not want to introduce old St. Nick as a smoker. An author attribution on the cover reads, "Edited by Santa Claus for the benefit of children of the 21st century," and a commitment to nonsmoking is a legitimate goal in materials intended for children. A clever note to readers from Santa on the back cover flap explains the excision of the smoking text and also affirms in a humorous way that Santa's costume uses only fake fur out of respect for "my dear friends the artic polar bears." The illustrations are greeting-card pretty, with an old-fashioned home and the father in a nightcap and holding a candle. (The lighted candles on the Christmas tree are something else 21st-century children don't need.) The toys in Santa's pack look like they come from the 1950s, and the illustrators' style is clearly influenced by animated Disney movies of that era. Well-meant, but not memorable aside from the smoke-free environment. (Picture book. 3-6)

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October 1, 2012

PreS-K-An 18th-century Papa narrates how he and the family pets assist Santa setting out Christmas presents for the family. Disney-like, full-color digital artwork lavishly depicts Moore's Christmas scenario from the kids snuggled in their beds to clever details such as Santa's reflection on each Christmas bulb. The book is subtle in its environmental and health-oriented treatment of the classic poem, except for Santa's note on the back flap saying that he has stopped smoking to be healthier and has always worn fake fur to protect animals including the Arctic polar bears. Purposeful, but not overdone.-Maureen Wade, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 13, 2021
The poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement C. Moore gains a richly illustrated new edition by Lynch, featuring a slumbering white family in atmospheric, angle-varying spreads. Detail-rich classical art, rendered in watercolor and gouache, maintains muted tones; meanwhile, Lynch offers a gently entertaining seek-and-find element, including visuals such as a sleeping cat among the furniture, and several breathless spreads convey a sense of wonder ideal for the season. As Santa himself, portrayed with light skin, approaches, the intricately rendered sets brighten at his presence, highlighted by a buttery glow. Leaving Moore’s text untouched, the book doesn’t add anything novel to the poem’s shelf of picture book renderings, but for traditionalists seeking a timeless option—particularly to present to first-time readers—Lynch’s dreamy illustrations of the Christmas classic will surely gratify. Ages 3–7.