Other editions of book The Night Before Christmas

A mid the many celebrations last Christmas Eve, in various places by different persons, there was one, in New York City, not like any other anywhere. A company of men, women, and children went together just after the evening service in their church, and, standing around the tomb of the author of "A Visit from St. Nicholas," recited together the words of the poem which we all know so well and love so dearly.Dr. Clement C. Moore, who wrote the poem, never expected that he would be remembered by it. If he expected to be famous at all as a writer, he thought it would be because of the Hebrew Dictionary that he wrote.He was born in a house near Chelsea Square, New York City, in 1781; and he lived there all his life. It was a great big house, with fireplaces in it;—just the house to be living in on Christmas Eve.Dr. Moore had children. He liked writing poetry for them even more than he liked writing a Hebrew Dictionary. He wrote a whole book of poems for them.One year he wrote this poem, which we usually call "'Twas the Night before Christmas," to give to his children for a Christmas present. They read it just after they had hung up their stockings before one of the big fireplaces in their house. Afterward, they learned it, and sometimes recited it, just as other children learn it and recite it now.

According to legend, Clement Clarke Moore wrote his immortal poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas, also known as The Night Before Christmas, for his family on Christmas Eve 1822. He never intended that it be published, but a family friend, Miss Harriet Butler, learned of the poem sometime later from Moore's children. She copied it into her album, and submitted it to the editor of the Troy (New York) Sentinel where it made its first appearance in print on December 23, 1823. Soon, the poem began to be reprinted in other newspapers, almanacs and magazines, with the first appearance in a book in The New York Book of Poetry, edited by Charles Fenno Hoffman, in 1837.It was not until 1844, however, that Moore himself acknowledged authorship in a volume of his poetry entitled Poems, published at the request of his children. One hundred and eighty years later it is the most-published, most-read, most-memorized and most-collected book in all of Christmas literature.

**Christian Christmas Classic**MODERN CHRISTIAN EDITION -- This beautifully illustrated modern edition enhances Christian themes in TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, one of the most beloved read-aloud poems ever. It is also a completely non-smoking edition (no more pipe-smoke) for a healthy Christmas and better life for all. Newly substituted lines recall the Christian origins of Santa Claus, or Saint Nicholas, a true-life hero of kindness of the early church. Both young and old will enjoy this e-book edition, with carefully restored color illustrations by the famed illustrator Jessie Willcox Smith.* Modern English replaces outdated words. Includes a modern preface, as a well as a historic introduction from 1912.Part of the "A Christian Christmas" series.Boston Hill Press is a premier publisher of quality books in history, religion, and literature.*Color feature requires e-reader device capable of color display. Grayscale devices may display illustrations in grayscale.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the houseNot a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.The children were nestled all snug in their beds,While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.Away to the window I flew like a flash,Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snowGave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.With a little old driver, so lively and quick,I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roofThe prancing and pawing of each little hoof.As I drew in my head, and was turning around,Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.He had a broad face and a little round belly,That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.And laying his finger aside of his nose,And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

The magical, classic poem that no Christmas can be without!"'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house..." When Clement Moore wrote a Christmas poem for his children about a magical visit from Saint Nicholas, he had no way of knowing that it would become the best-known and best-loved holiday poem of all time. The wonder of his familiar verses is brought to life in this edition by John Steven Gurney, who has illustrated over a hundred books for children. John Gurney has created the perfect match for a classic poem that has and will continue to delight children and adults for generations.

'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.

We have more than fifty versions of this wonderful poem in our library; this is one of our favorites. Margaret Evans Price has a gentle talent. The Santa Claus on the cover, and throughout, is one of the kindest Santas ever imagined. This is a Santa who is appealingly earth bound. This is a facsimile of the 1917 edition. We have die-cut it, as in the original, and the shaped / rounded top makes it especially appealing. This is an ideal first "Night Before Christmas" for a young child.