The Night Before Christmas is Almost Here...

And here's a striking pop-up book to usher it in!

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS: A MAGICAL CUT-PAPER EDITION 

This gorgeous cut-paper edition of Clement Moore's celebrated Christmas poem evokes the snowy magic of the season through moonlit silhouettes, touched with red and green splashes of color. Each page reveals scenes that transform to reveal the elegant details and surprises of a festive family home.

The final page reveals a spectacular pop-up, laser-cut finale. All the excitement and anticipation of Christmas Eve is captured by the art of Niroot Puttapipat.  

My grandsons love this book, and I'm excited to be giving them a companion Niroot Puttapipat book this year for Christmas: The Nutcracker.  (Trust me, it's gorgeous!  See it here.)

From my porch to yours...

Merry Christmas to all, 

and to all a good night!

Up Close and Personal With Jolly Old St. Nick

As a child, whenever I heard Clement C. Moore's "The Night Before Christmas" I recall wishing I could actually spring from my bed into the poem to join the narrator and watch the children, the sugarplums, St. Nick, and the reindeer as he described them!

Well, if that was you too, today I'd like to recommend a dreamy picture book version of this lovely old poem (written by Moore in 1822), that will take your child face to face with that "Right Jolly Old Elf".

Robert Ingpen's illustrations have a wonderfully inviting quality and a "you're there too" perspective, starting with the Mouse (who though he's not stirring, is looking right at you!)

I love the soft, warm style of Ingpen's illustrations. If you want to see more pictures from this cozy book, curl up with a cup of hot cocoa and watch this Youtube video, courtesy of Palazzo Editions, Ltd (2011)...



Robert Ingpen has illustrated other classic titles which include: Treasure Island, The Wind in the Willows, The Jungle Book, Peter Pan & Wendy, A Christmas Carol, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and The Secret Garden (all published by Walker Books - go here for more information).