The Night Before Christmas: A Victorian Vision of the Christmas Classic

"A snow-covered Victorian New York City is the location for Anita Lobel's version of this classic Christmas poem. The cozy interiors show a cat curled up under the tree; portraits of ancestors in every room; argyle, striped and polka-dotted stockings hanging empty on the mantle; children snug in bed with dolls and teddy bears. A jolly St. Nick arrives on schedule, leaving a wonderful array of toys before he flies over a majestic scene of the Brooklyn Bridge and city skyline under the watchful eye of the moon. Lobel's paintings are gentle and reassuring, filled with intricate detail and family love. From the soft endpaper illustrations to the detail of the wallpaper in the children's bedroom, she has captured with richness and simplicity the joy and love of the holiday season."--School Library Journal, Starred