The Night Before Christmas

Hobbie’s fresh interpretation of the beloved Christmas classic offers a new way to see the arrival of St. Nick, from the perspective of one of the children of the household, rather than just the father.

An intriguing cover illustration sets the scene, with the four children of the family snuggled up in a huge bed. The three older children are sound asleep, but look closely at the youngest boy, a towheaded toddler in a footed sleeper-suit. He’s wide awake, and he and the family’s cat head downstairs together. The little boy hides in a striped armchair and secretly watches as Santa arrives for his delivery. The father of the family is also awake and watching, connecting effectively with the narrator’s voice in the poem. There is a hushed, magical feeling in Hobbie’s masterful illustrations, done in watercolor, gouache, and pen and ink. She effectively captures the subdued lighting of the quiet house at night and the dark, mysterious atmosphere of the outdoor scenes with deep-gray skies, snowy vistas and a single fox standing by. Every element of the book’s thoughtful design is skillfully chosen, including surprising perspectives, effective use of white space and an elegant type that echoes the muted palette of the illustrations.

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Hobbie re-envisions this much-loved holiday poem through the eyes of a curious toddler and the family cat, along with the traditional patriarch narrator, in a radiant, gorgeously illustrated rendition. A snowy, magically moonlit sky and cozily appointed countryside home set the hushed, anticipatory scene for St. Nick's wondrous visit. Wide-eyed astonishment on the faces of both father and child peeking at the action instantly convey the excitement of the season while watercolor and pen and ink spots, panels, and spreads present gentle, homey details--the toddler's drop-seat pajamas, rustic garlands and stockings, a well-used fireplace. An artist's note and information about Moore close out this volume. Ages 3-6. (Oct.)

PreS-Gr 3--An elegant, almost Art Deco sensibility and a multitude of viewpoints make this version of the holiday classic stand out. Hobbie uses transparent watercolor, pen and ink, and gouache on watercolor paper to good effect, with plenty of white space. Readers see the story from the perspective of a fox, Papa (sans nightcap), an enterprising toddler, and the pet cat, and a view from overhead. The illustrations will carry with a fairly large audience, but up-close inspection offers even more enjoyment, such as the matching astonishment on the faces of father and child, Santa's grandfatherly twinkle, even what looks like amusement on the faces of the reindeer. A brief biography of Moore and an artist's note are appended. A fine edition to freshen up holiday collections.--Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library