The Night Before Christmas

In this collection of stories and poems, the fascinating traditions and customs of Christmas are revealed on single-page features. Each story is accompanied by fascinating information on a page illustrated with colorful photographs from around the world. These pages give insights into various traditions and aspects of the Christmas holiday. Why do we have Christmas trees? Do you know who Santa Claus really is? Anne Yvonne Gilbert has illustrated the stories in such delightful detail. She began as a freelance illustrator in 1978 and has since published illustrated books on both sides of the Atlantic for most major publishers. Many pieces of her prize-winning original artwork reside in private collections, including one owned by England's Princess Margaret. This is a collection of traditional favorites by Charles Dickens, Louisa May Allcott, Hans Christian Andersen, and Clement C. Moore. Modern classics are also included. Each story has been chosen to illustrate a Christmas theme. The stories include: The Cherry Tree Carol, The Little Fir Tree, A Merry Christmas, Really, Truly, Reilly, The Christmas Cherries, Christmas Dinner at the Cratchits, The Twelve Days of Christmas, The Cat on the Dovrefell, The Holly and the Ivy, There's Snow on the Fields, A Christmas Story, A Visit from Saint Nicholas and Baboushka. A Merry Christmas is a story about Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy who's father is away fighting in the Civil War. They have no presents to look forward to at Christmastime. Their mother promises them they will have a surprise waiting for them under their pillows when they awake. A Christmas Story is one told by gypsy mothers on the night of Christmas. A Visit from St. Nicholas is actually the traditional "Night before Christmas" poem made popular by Clement Clark Moore. Baboushka is a story of a woman who goes searching for the Christ Child and is looking still. She was too busy looking for toys and cleaning them and doesn't go with the three kings to see the Christ Child. Perhaps there is a great lesson in this story as God seeks our hearts, not our outward display of gifts. Now Baboushka is said to go from house to house seeking for the Christ Child and if she hears of a good deed, she leaves a toy from her basket for a sleeping child. ~The Rebecca Review