Tomie De Paola is internationally recognized for having written and
illustrated many children''s books, including "The Lady of
Guadalupe", "The Clown of God", "Cat on the Doverfell", "Big
Anthony and the Magic Ring", and "Strega Nona", a Caldecott Honor
book. Using watercolours and inks in this book to create
full-colour illustrations, Mr. de Paola is faithful to the text.
Since St. Nicholas is described in the poem as "a right jolly old
elf," the artist has made him elflike, and shows him driving a
miniature sleigh with eight tiny reindeer. Mr. de Paola has set the
poem in a mid-nineteenth century New England town, using quilt
designs from his own collection for the borders. This is the 100th
book he has illustrated.
Clement Moore, who was a professor at General Theological
Seminary, wrote "The Night Before Christmas" for his children in
1822. The poem was originally called "A Visit from St. Nicholas"
and was first published in the newspaper, Troy Sentinel, in
1823.