Short description
These pocket-size editions of The Night Before Christmas and the Nutcracker capture the magic of the original stories with any array of enticing illustrations. The Night Before Christmas includes images by the world's most renowned children's book illustrators of the late 19th and early 20th centuries gathered from a collection of antique picture books.
Long description
These pocket-size editions of The Night Before Christmas and the Nutcracker capture the magic of the original stories with any array of enticing illustrations. The Night Before Christmas includes images by the world's most renowned children's book illustrators of the late 19th and early 20th centuries gathered from a collection of antique picture books. And in The Nutcracker, Michael Hague's show-stopping artwork brings the excitement of this festive holiday story to life. The timeless appeal of these classical Christmas tales in these visually stunning mini editions are a glorious tribute to the most magical night of the year.
Review
A smiling Santa in goggles and aviator helmet speeds up the Christmas Eve delivery system with updated transportation from his "Far Northair" sleigh. This futuristic-looking vehicle still uses eight reindeer, but additional propulsion is controlled through sophisticated equipment in the covered cockpit (including a built-in beverage maker with choices from hot chocolate to borsht). This interpretation of Moore's classic poem finds Santa making a delivery to a household with three children in a traditional, suburban neighborhood. The father of the family springs out of bed in a panic in one dramatic spread, with his hand seeming to stretch right off the page toward the reader. A diverse crew of helpers joins Santa on his Christmas Eve flight, with costumed elves from many countries and ethnic groups helping to unload the toys and clean the soot off Santa's red cape, furry pants and pointed boots. Elves and toys decorate the endpapers and also appear as spot illustrations at the end of the poem's verses, which are attractively framed with bold, red borders on alternating spreads. An "interview" of St. Nick by illustrator Watson concludes the volume. (Picture book. 3-7) (Kirkus Reviews)