The Nights Before Christmas: 24 Classic Stories to Read Aloud Hardcover – August 1, 2017

I found out about this book in the Sunday Times newspaper: it was recommended in their culture section of the 7th Dec. 2014 as a "superbly chosen anthology for six to adult" (a charming age classification!) It appears to be accurate, too, since I have been enjoying this as much as my daughter, for a whole week now. The book takes the form of an advent calendar: it has 24 stories meant to be read on the 24 nights before Christmas. But they're not all stories: there also are poems, letters, newspaper articles, traditional carols and even an excerpt from the King James Bible, about the Nativity (the birth of Jesus, The Shepherds and the Angels and the visit of the Magi). It's a great mix. Holding the lot together is superb artist Tony Ross (the illustrator of Francesca Simons's "Horrid Henry" books, Astrid Lindgren's UK editions of the "Pippi Longstocking" books, illustrator of the hilarious "Really Rude Rhino" and most notably, the author-cum-illustrator of the beloved "Little Princess"). The fact that his style of drawing is instantly recognisable is a big bonus for the book; it feels cosy and familiar. He's also composed the book's very emotional introductory message, explaining what makes Christmas special for him and that "much of the excitement of Christmas comes from the anticipation."It is really hard to find original festive books every year, but this one hits the nail on the head. The aces up its sleeve are its newspaper articles: There is an article from The New York Times (published on 31st December 1914; news didn't travel very fast those days) about the Christmas Truce. It is very touching and rather funny and will certainly play your heart strings. Its place in this anthology is very timely, this year being the 100th anniversary of the event. Reading the article can be very chilling, given that we, the readers of 2014, know what was to follow and how many years it was to last, but that the 1914 reporter, who has written it in a very jolly way, was blissfully oblivious of the monstrosities the future would hold for the world. The other newspaper article included here is that very famous one by Francis Pharcellus Church: "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus". According to the "notes on the authors and the stories" that you will find at the end of this fine anthology, this is the most reprinted article in English ever! It is great to have an opportunity to read the entire article and to learn about the circumstances under which it was written. The phrase "Yes, Virginia..." has achieved motto status and is often mentioned in many American festive films (most notably in the famous "Prancer" 1989 film, which has become a staple of our festive TV diet), but quite a few people in the UK don't realise what it means when they hear it. Here's your chance to find out- and it is a beautifully written article indeed.There are many other curiosities in this collection, making it extra special: For me, the real treat here is the letter by Mark Twain addressed to his daughter, supposedly from Santa (and when you read it, it will remind you a bit of R. R. Tolkien's beautiful "Letters from Father Christmas" to his children- only Twain was no illustrator, of course). This is what sold the book to me, as I deeply admire that colossus of American Literature, not only because of his Tom Sawyers and Huckleberry Finns, but also because of his astute political thought: Anyone who hasn't read his sharp "King Leopold's Soliloquy" (about the Belgian rule of Congo) could be greatly benefited from doing so. It is not a mere book, but a history and culture lesson, like so many of the other things he's written. It's very nice to see him here as simply "Dad."You will also find some of the "usual suspects" in this book: Clement Clarke Moore's "A Visit from St Nicholas" couldn't be absent, since it gave this anthology its title, and it is the first poem here. There is also Christina Rossetti's "In the Bleak Midwinter", the "Twelve Days of Christmas" and the "Good King Wenceslas" carol by John Mason Neale, about which you'll read some interesting info in the notes' section (I won't reveal). These sit along nicely with three Hans Christian Andersen stories, a German folk tale ("The Christmas fairy of Strasbourg"), two excerpts from Dickens's "Christmas Carol," an extract from "The Wind in the Willows" (the latter having been elevated to recent "Christmas Classic" status due to its having been made into a Royal Opera House festive season play), Oscar Wilde's "The Selfish Giant", a story retold by Leo Tolstoy "Papa Panov's Special Christmas"), a story by the Grimm Brothers and so it goes... I won't list them all here.Overall, a star purchase for the festive season and a winner, best enjoyed shared with your family. Only two minor criticisms, if I may:Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen" spoils the book's flow a bit, as it is overlong. I find it hard to imagine this superb anthologist had trouble finding something else to put in its place; I assume this story must be a favourite of theirs, so they wanted to include it. However, it would be very hard to read the entire "Queen" in just one night, if you were making an advent affair of this collection. I tried, but it was hard; the story bored my daughter a bit, too; her glazed-over facial expression when I was reading it to her reminded me a bit of that famous Ernst-Hugo Järegård line from series "The Kingdom": "Cuckoo, Cuckoo, fallera! Hans Christian Andersen, Danish National Poet". On the contrary, Andersen's other stories in the book, "The little match-seller" and "The Fir Tree" kept her interested and alert, the first one moving her immensely.The second "downside" of this anthology would be that it is a rather heavy, bulky affair: it is hard for little hands to lift up, hold and handle (at this moment anyway; maybe in the future there might be a lighter, paperback edition). So, even though its target audience starts at 6 years old, very young children will need a parent's or a carer's help to read it. However, it could be this turns out for the best: the book's size makes it "all the better" to share and its sturdiness will ensure it'll be with your family for generations to come. In a world where most items are expendable, this is very reassuring.

Can't wait to read this to my children each night in December. Lovely illustrations and stories.

Beautiful.

my grandaughter loved it drawings very good worth every penny

Brilliant book