"'Twas the Night Before Christmas" is a Christmas classic. Clement Clarke Moore originally wrote it anonymously 200 years ago exactly (almost to the day, December 23rd, 1823!) and it's still a staple today. Nearly everyone over a certain age could recite at least a few lines of the poem. It's a very well known piece of American writing. Mr. Moore once had his country estate on most of the land in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan before he developed and sold plots. The name Chelsea comes from the name of his country estate.
Here is a book flight of books based off his original poem. Often the language is updated but in many of these cases, it's almost completely changed while keeping the rhythm and parts of the original. It's so familiar that it makes these comfortable to read every year!
The other Christmas Picture Book Flights I've done are: Reindeer, Christmas Carols, Mice & Christmas, Christmas in New York, Saints, Cookies & Treats, Christmas Trees, Animals Celebrating, Santa Stories, The Nativity Story, and Historic Christmases. As well as just a list of {25} Christmas Picture Books (no guarantee of no overlap between those lists!).
Note: Affiliate links abound below, I make a small (very small) commission off items if you purchase through those links, at no extra cost to you. I appreciate your understanding and support! Of course I fully support utilizing the library or shopping used or from an independent bookstore!
'Twas the Evening of Christmas by Glenys Nelist, illustrated by Elena Selivanova
My favorite on this list and one I have gifted to many of our godchildren (we own it too). It has the rhytmn very much of the original but tells the story of Jesus' birth. One of my top 5 favorite Christmas books.
The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Antonio Javier Caparo
The original with fantastic, very classic illustrations.
The Knights Before Christmas by Joan Holub, illustrated by Scott Magoon
My boys like this one, about knights trying to defend their castle from an invader (Santa) who leaves behind his slingshot (a Christmas tree). Many Christmas puns within and lots of little details. Sticks close to the rhythm of the original. A fun variation.
Twas the Night Before Christmas on Sesame Street by Sesame Workshop
There were Decembers where I read this to Sam nearly daily and so I'll long have a soft spot for it. Santa is coming and Cookie Monster realizes that he's eaten all of Santa's cookies, so his friends come together to get cookies ready for Santa quickly. Either Santa works through Sesame Street very slowly or they can make cookies at incredible speed, even after being woken up in the middle of the night. But...it's very cute for Sesame Street fans. (My kids pretty much only know Sesame Street characters from the picture books I've read them.)
'Twas the Night Before Christmas at the Zoo by Lauren Hughes, illustrated by Mary Hoff
A local favorite that I actually had to buy used from ENGLAND to get my own copy (the copy I purchase requested from the library took so many months to come in that I gave up). This is very much based on our local (award winning) zoo but is general enough that most of it could apply to any zoo. Also, I like peacocks, my second favorite bird.
The Berenstain Bears' Night Before Christmas by Mike Berenstain
If there is a Berenstain Bear book on any subject...we are going to read it. Fairly close to the original but with a Bear spin on it.
Mr. Boddington's Studio: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore, illustrated by Mr. Boddington Studio
This is a classic version of the original that we read every year. Not as "classic" of illustrations as the one above but a bit simpler.
The Night Before Christmas by Rachel Isadora
A reimaginating of the original but set in Africa with African inspired art.
The Night Before Jesus by Herbert Brokering, illustrated by David Miles
This is another religious retelling told in the rhythm of the original but it fell off our annual list because our library got rid of their only copy (WHY?!?). But it's a good one.
Any or all of these would be fantastic reading over the next few days. How are we less than a week out from Christmas?!?!?
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