The Night Before Christmas

by Tom Browning, Clement C. Moore

Overview

T’was the night before Christmas, and all through the house…for decades families have gathered together to read Clement C. Moore’s eternally enchanting holiday poem. And now there’s a magical new version to ring in the season with joy.

Featuring beautiful original illustrations by award-winning artist Tom Browning, this stunning edition of The Night Before Christmas stands apart from the rest. Browning, regarded in the gift industry as America’s premiere Santa painter, has created a classically styled Saint Nick—the quintessential round, jolly, white-bearded figure that everyone, young and old, imagines. The look is timeless, traditional, filled with warmth and sentiment: exactly what Christmas should be.

The story’s enduring charm and Browning’s memorable art make The Night Before Christmas a must-have for any child who is just discovering the tale—and every adult who has loved it forever.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781402785047
Publisher:	Sterling
Publication date:	12/21/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	367,033
File size:	10 MB
Age Range:	5 - 12 Years

About the Author

Tom Browning is the author of many publications, including the acclaimed instructional book Timeless Techniques for Better Oil Painting. He is also the illustrator of the successful children’s book Santa’s Time Off and an award-winning member of the Northwest Rendezvous Group. Browning’s art is represented by the Wilcox Gallery in Jackson, Wyoming.
He lives with his wife Joyce in Bend, Oregon, where they have operated a decorator print and greeting card business for the past twenty-two years. His Santas appear in many manufactured products, including top-selling designs in clothtique figures by Possible Dreams.

Editorial Reviews

PreS-Gr 2–A series of greeting-card-type paintings fails to coalesce as a new or unique addition to the many versions of the classic poem already available. The layout is static and somewhat confusing with a variety of unrelated cameo images appearing in the text boxes. The full-page images of Santa seem suitable for framing, but not really much else.–Anne Connor, Los Angeles Public Library

School Library Journal

Those who seek a large-format, traditional interpretation of this Christmas classic will enjoy this pleasant though not exceptional effort. Browning's realistic paintings offer an old-fashioned setting and a handsome, jolly Santa in a resplendent costume with lots of fur trim and a huge belt. This version focuses directly on Santa on most pages, following him closely as he arrives, leaves his gifts and then departs with his sleigh and reindeer into the night sky. Text blocks are set off with decorative borders and smaller illustrations of Santa at home in his workshop. An introductory author's note provides the traditional view of Moore as the author of the poem without mentioning the considerable controversy over the poem's true attribution. This note concludes with the questionable statement that "almost all the children in the world have read this poem." (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews