The Night Before Christmas Heirloom Edition: The Classic Edition Hardcover with Audio CD Narrated by Jeff Bridges Hardcover – Audiobook, October 4, 2016

Excellent quality publishing that is true to the classic publication of the 1823 original. Great quality illustrations and easy for kids to follow along. I bought this to start a Christmas tradition in my house. I had a little chuckle when a fellow reviewer complained of a "glaring typo" in calling "Donner" as "Donder". This being a "Classic Edition" is based on the some of the early versions of this poem, where the reindeer were originally referred to as "Dunder and Blixem", an obvious que to the Dutch American influences in the Troy, NY area where the story was written. Sometime in the early 1900's, the names were changed to "Dunder and Blitzen", as seen in the publishing of this book. We didn't get "Donner and Blitzen" until a published 1939 version, and was further solidified in pop culture with the Johnny Marks 1949 Christmas song, "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer". I really enjoyed the inclusion of the original version, "'Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas' as published in The Troy Sentinel on December 23, 1823" version in the beginning of the book, where we see "Dunder and Blixem"! Very cool version, and the kids enjoyed it as well. Again, a very good quality heirloom book that I hope will be at the center of our Christmas Eves for years to come. Merry Christmas!

So happy with this big, beautiful book! The classic story is printed completely on one page without illustrations. Then the story comes to life with a verse on each page, along with stunning illustrations. The artwork is gorgeous; a moonlit night of shadowy figure outside springs into vibrant colors as Santa lights the lamp! The “gatefold” is a four-page foldout of the view through the open window. See the photos; this is The Applesauce Press edition illustrated by Charles Santore. Get two copies, one for the kids and one for keeps!

Your browser does not support HTML5 video.  This is a wonderful entry in the series of Classic Coloring books featuring the artwork of Charles Santore. The poem is by Clement C. Moore and the illustrations are by Charles Santore. Along with the poem and the designs, there are small color pictures from the illustrated version of this book on the inside front and back covers. That way, you can use similar colors if you so choose.The coloring book is a larger than standard format. The designs are mostly done in line drawing form with some designs having considerable shading included. Those few images border on the edge of being grayscale designs.The poem and illustrations are set up in true storybook style, with the text on the left hand side (back of page) and the illustration to the right. The illustrations match well with the text on the facing page with a lot of emphasis on images of Santa.Some mediums will bleed through the page (see below), which will interfere with the text but if that doesn't bother you, you can treat the book as if the designs were one sided.This is what I found while coloring in the book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:23 Designs inspired by the famous poem “The Night Before Christmas”. Illustrations are by Charles Santore.Designs printed on one side of the page with storybook text on the back.Paper is white, every so slightly rough to touch, medium weight and non-perforatedHybrid glue and sewn binding (lots of small stitches.) You cannot snip threads to remove pages from the book.Designs stop short of the binding and have a framing line at the outer edgesBook opens easily to flat position for ease of coloring.Alcohol-based markers bleed through the pageWater-based markers and India ink markers leave a slight colorful shadow on the back of the page.Gel pens do not bleed through an left an indistinct shadow on the back of the page.Colored pencils did well with this paper. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I was easily able to get good pigment with multiple layers of the same color. I also was able to layer multiple colors and blend well using a blender stick.

I searched everywhere for the right copy of this story because I want it to be a yearly tradition - wrapped with pajamas to open on Christmas Eve. This book did not disappoint. It is a perfect size, and it is illustrated so beautifully. There is even a fold out part, which was great for my little 1 year old page turner! I would highly recommend this!

This book is excellent, just the way Clement Moore wrote. Be careful when buying children's books. Incredibly and horribly, some have edited out the classic verse about Santa smoking a pipe!!! As if the kiddies will be encouraged to smoke pipes by reading this! BEWARE. Buy this excellent book. BUY THIS ONE!!!

People have complained this this “heirloom quality” book has typos. It does not. It’s the original poem from 1823 with correct spelling but alternative spelling of Donner (Dunder, Donder are other ways it was spelled). Also one review said Ere he drove out of sight which isn’t a typo. As he drove out of sight is just the modern vernacular. If the older language and spelling is bothersome don’t buy this book. In my opinion it’s a small trade off for illustration that looks classic.

Love this timeless, classic. The illustrations are lovely and this will be a wonderful memory maker for my nephew. The centerfold is very cool. I love that the story is written all on one page in the front of the book offering a quick fireside read to share with family and friends. Or you have the traditional read through option accompanying the photos to snuggle up with little ones for a magical holiday read.

Your browser does not support HTML5 video.  Beautifully illustrated story of the classical Night before Christmas poem. Must have in any Christmas collection, young and old!Love the old fashioned illustrations, the stocking, the woman in bed with her satin bonnet kerchief and man with his sleeping cap. The illustrations of Santa Claus and his reindeer are wonderful. Only part I'm not found of is the illustration of Santa smoking his pipe. It fits in with the poem but don't think it was necessary to labour the smoke plume over two pages. 2.5 year old attention to detail didn't miss a beat! Overall a beautiful addition to our Christmas book collection.

Very nice book but it didn't seem to have all the bits I remember as a child... That could just be a memory issue though! Tough to find a nice book out there that is traditional and not updated, you won't go far wrong with this.

This book is a classic but I would suggest it for children 5+ (speaking from a non-native English speaker perspective). The rhyme is too advanced for younger children and the illustrations, though beautiful, didn’t hold my 3yo’s attention.

Nice book-And glad I could find it as a ‘board version’ - my toddler would have ripped it otherwise. I’ve given it 4stars because there’s a typo.... ‘Donder’ instead of Donner... but annoying and makes you wonder why proof readers get paid.... but overall it’ll do the job until I can buy a more elegant one when the children are old enough not to gnaw on the pages. :-)

Very disappointed the images are dark NOT COLOURFUL at all and considering it’s aimed at a baby COLOUR IS VERY IMPORTANT!! I think I should return as I don’t really want to give it to our son for his first born I would give NO STARS if allowed so upset we were so looking forward to giving them this CLASSIC BOOK and in board so safe but not now