Collecting The Night Before Christmas

from Richard Jesse Watson

Did you know that the famous poem by Dr. Clement C. Moore had a huge part in defining the “Santa” tradition in the U.S.? He was a native New Yorker who wrote it for his children in 1822 and titled it “A Visit from St. Nicholas.”  Before the poem was published, St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, had never been associated with reindeers, chimneys and a sleigh full of toys.

Even now, as my kids outgrow their belief in Santa, they still love reading the poem leading up to and on Christmas Eve, and each year we come close to memorizing it, only to forget it by the following December. My first copy might have been this one, done in cloth, that E got when she was a baby.

Here I am, thinking I had a very antique copy of the poem here. Actually, it's a reproduction from the New York Public Library. Look how Santa is dressed in this edition!

This version by the renowned pop-up artist Robert Sabuda quickly followed.

That got us hooked on collecting new versions, by different illustrators. It’s fun to see the different interpretations. Below, Jane Chambless.

Did you have any books when you were a kid that were illustrated by Leonard Weisgard? The Caldecott award winner was preeminent in his day – maybe best known for the many classic Golden Books he illustrated, and his collaborations with Margaret Wise Brown.

Speaking of Margaret Wise Brown, does this illustration from Grandma Moses remind you of another famous room in a children's storybook?

Bruce Whatley gets the reindeer award.

Some other favorites...

Check out the outstanding cutouts in this one by Niroot Puttapipat.

And here is another one by Grandma Moses.

By Matt Tavares

This edition from Chronicle Books, features lots of classics from bygone eras.

I have a few editions on my wish list: those by Tasha Tudor and Jesse Wilcox Smith. Maybe there are others I’m missing? Wouldn't it be great to have one by Edward Gorey, Dr. Seuss or Elizabeth Sayles?  And I wonder, if you could have one illustrated by an artist of your choice, who would it be?

Would you believe my youngest wore this getup to school today?

Wishing you all the happiness
the season will allow.