The Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house . . . The familiar words of Clement C. Moore's classic Christmas poem have never before been illustrated with such style. Richard Jesse Watson's magnificent paintings infuse traditional holiday images with pizzazz and flair. Spilling over with all the joy and generosity of the season, this playful picture book is perfect for families of today.

Clement C. Moore (1779–1863), an American scholar and poet, first wrote “The Night Before Christmas” in 1822 to entertain his children. A friend submitted it to a local newspaper, the Troy Sentinel, where it was published on December 23, 1823. Moore’s delightful description of St. Nicholas and his eight flying reindeer has since become the definitive portrait of Santa Claus.