Title: The Night Before Christmas
Author: Rose Collins
Format: Kindle Edition
Genre: Children’s Book
Language: English
Published: 7th December 2015 by NurseryBox Books
Print Length: 28 pages
File Size: 15661 KB
ASIN: B0193Y9PHW
Price: £1.49
Sold By: Amason UK Amazon USA
A free copy of the book was provided to me in exchange for a review.
Clement Clarke Moore’s much-loved poem is brought beautifully to life in this gorgeous picture book with a twist – as Santa visits a family of bears on Christmas Eve.
I’ve always loved Clement Clarke Moore’s poem ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas.’ For me, Christmas Eve is my favourite day of the year. So when I was asked to review this book I didn’t hesitate in saying ‘yes’.
Christmas Eve is a magical night and this book is just as magical. The pictures, story, and vivid colour not only help in making the book a spellbinding read, but they captured my heart. I could not fail in taking in every last detail of the illustrations and being whisked away on Santa’s sleigh for the time it took me to read the book.
I thought I was going to get the story of ‘The Three Bears’ but was very pleased to say there were no hints of cold porridge or lumpy beds. I smiled throughout the whole book and could feel it pulling me back to the days of my childhood. Not only will every child enjoy reading this book, but so will any adult who reads it to children.
As I have already mentioned, the illustrations are both beautiful and colourful. Children, young and old, will take a great time in absorbing the whole story not just from the words, but also from looking at the pictures and taking in everything that has been captured in them. They are mesmorizing.
Although the book is aimed at younger children, I’d encourage parents to get older children to read the story to their younger brothers and sisters. Didn’t we all love the magic of Christmas, especially when very young? The book will certainly help anybody reading it to spread that magical feeling to their audience.
The only slight problem I had with the book is that there is a small section of the story which refers to Santa smoking his pipe. The illustration on the particular page also shows this. Given the anti-social attitude towards smoking these days, some may find that they don’t want to promote Santa’s bad habit, as a smoker, to children. I was a little surprised to see it in the book. Had the book been published 30 or so years ago, then I don’t think it would have been considered that much of a problem but, in the current climate, it may raise a few eyebrows.
Realistic Characterisation: 5/5
Overall Enjoyment: 5/5
Readability: 5/5
Recommended: 4/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Review by:
Hugh Roberts
Twitter: @HughRoberts05 (https://twitter.com/HughRoberts05)
Blog: hughsviewsandnews.com (http://hughsviewsandnews.com/about/)
Facebook: Hugh W. Roberts (https://www.facebook.com/HughsViewsAndNews05)
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Hugh Roberts, reviewing for Lit World Interviews – The Night Before Christmas by Rose Collins for children of all ages. Looks like a charming book.
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Thanks for the reblog, Sally.
xx
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Pleasure Hugh.. hugs xx
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O.u.t.s.t.a.n.d.i.n.g. 🙂
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Thanks very much, Tess. 🎅
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You are welcome, Hugh. 🙂
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Fantastic review Hugh. You really pulled the heart out of the story, and the mention of the politically correctedness of the pipe was a good point for parents to be forewarned. 🙂
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Thanks, Debby. I wasn’t sure about the pipe thing at first but, in this day and age, I think it’s such an important point.
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You have an eye! 🙂
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Can’t wait until I have grandchildren to read this poem to, Hugh – or maybe I can read it to my husband?
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I’m sure he’d enjoy it, Noelle. I certainly enjoyed reading it. It was a delightful and very uplifting read.
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Hi Hugh. It was fun to see this book reviewed. I really do get what you’re saying about the pipe. But Santa also had that belly that shook “like a bowl full of jelly.” So are we to slim him down and send him to the gym to build muscles and washboard abs? Don’t mind me. I really do see your point. I just couldn’t get away from the thought. LOL, maybe it wasn’t tobacco in that pipe. 😉 Huge hugs my friend.
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That’s a very good point, Teagan, and one that did not cross my mind (probably because I have a bit of a wobbly belly myself)., 😱
Obesity is certainly a more modern problem these days. However, we don’t see Santa eating anything in this book (not even those mince pies and that glass of sherry that are usually left out for him), so that’s probably why I did not pick up on it. For me, Santa has always been (as the song goes) the big jolly man in the bright red suit. I just can’t imagine him as a slim muscle specimen. I better stop there, otherwise I may be tempted to join a gym. 😀
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LOL, It was my own Santa-belly that caused me to think that way. (By the way, you do not have one at all.) I live in a community of mostly young, slim, snobs dressed in what I call DC Drab. I stand out like a sore thumb (a proud-of-it sore thumb, mind you), so I’m used to being looked at with their snide, contemptuous expressions. So I felt protective of Santa. 😉 Seriously it’s all just me and my own “filter”. Everyone has filters through which we view the world. I have a Santa-belly filter. LOL.
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