THE VISIT: THE ORIGIN OF THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

THE VISIT by Mark Kimball Moulton. Illustrated by Susan Winget.

Have you ever wondered where the poem "The Night Before Christmas" came from or why it was even written? Author Mark Kimball Moulton had the opportunity to interview Dinghy Sharp, the great-great-granddaughter of Clement Clarke Moore, writer of the infamous poem. What she related to him was a beautiful story so wonderful it deserved its own picture book. A story filled with love and the beauty of sacrificial giving.

The Visit is what I like to call a meaty picture book. It's longer and contains more words than the typical one does. As an added bonus, Moulton relays this story in verse form as a sort of tribute to the original poem.

The illustrations in The Visit are very Victorian to match the timeframe of the story. Loads of greens, reds, golds, and whites fill the pages acknowledging its Christmastime heritage.

The Visit is beautifully written and a wonderful story to share if "A Night Before Christmas" holds a special place in your home! I highly recommend this book!