For our fourth advent book review I have decided to stick with the theme from yesterday, a board book with touchy feely elements and a book which we have alternative versions of, the book, The Night Before Christmas.
Twas The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore is a family tradition for many, shared with young and old on Christmas Eve just before tucking up in bed and waiting for the jolly man himself.
Sadly this was not tradition for me when I was a child, the love for this poem comes from discovering it’s magic as an adult and knowing that I want my children to know this poem by heart and feel its magic in their soul.
I have to say that I do not think this particular version of the famous festive poem is going to be enough to set their hearts alight!
The book, illustrated by Tom Newsom, is a board book but the pages are very thin and not very strong.
It claims to be a touch and feel sparkle book but there is not much to touch or feel and not very much that sparkles.
I think that it is a lovely idea, a first version of this Yuletide poem that children can treasure for always, but that is not at all what this is and I think that it is a real shame.
There are wonderful opportunities that have been missed. The stockings hanging by the fire could have been covered with wool or felt for children to feel. The soft cuffs of Santa’s glorious suit could have been just that, soft, instead of card. And how can you have reindeer without being able to stroke their silky fur?
The book does have some textures for toddlers to explore. On the front cover Santa has a fabulous curly white beard that you can sink your fingers into and the children sleep beneath a shiny satin sheet. There are some shiny baubles but not a sprinkle of glitter anywhere!
A simple introduction to a wonderful poem this book could be but should not be bought as a present or potential family heirloom. There are better versions for that and we have some of them coming up soon in our literary countdown to Christmas!
Here are some pictures from My First Night Before Christmas illustrated by Tom Newsom.
