Experience the events of the first Christmas night with this stunning board book written in the beloved style of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." "'Twas the very first Christmas when all through the town, not a creature was stirring--there was not a sound." This beautiful retelling of the birth of Jesus celebrates that fateful night in Bethlehem so long ago. The story begins with Mary and Joseph's arrival in Bethlehem and continues through Christ's birth, the angels' appearance to the shepherds, and the wise men's visit. Simple, elegant verses are brought to life with lush oil paintings, creating an enchanting reading experience for littles and their loved ones.

A poem about the visit that Santa Claus pays to the children of the world during the night before every Christmas.

Elegant, simple text and luminous art make this an almost hymn-like meditation on the meaning of Christmas and the Nativity story. Full color.

First Stories: 'Twas The Night Before Christmas is the perfect introduction for young children to Clement Clarke Moore's popular poem. Push, pull and slide the pages to see reindeer magically flying through the sky, sugarplum fairies dancing and stockings filling up with presents. This well-loved poem is beautifully imagined for a new generation by illustrator Miriam Bos. Collect more books in the First Stories series: Aladdin, Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, A Christmas Carol, Cinderella, Doctor Dolittle, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Hansel and Gretel, Jack and the Beanstalk, The Jungle Book, The Little Mermaid, Little Red Riding Hood, The Nutcracker, Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Puss in Boots, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, The Three Little Pigs, The Snow Queen, Mulan and The Ugly Duckling.

'Twas the night before Christmas-in Bethlehem town travelers hurried uphill and down; as word from Rome came, they had been told to go to their hometowns to be enrolled. A new twist on an old classic, The Night Before the First Christmas tells the story of the true meaning behind Christmas. Share it with your family, and make it a new Christmas tradition!

We all know what happened the night before Christmas, but have you ever heard the story about the night before the first Christmas? This may have been one of the most important Christmases ever! The world was quiet and still until a tiny baby changed everything! Follow the story as Mary and Joseph journey to Bethlehem to be counted for taxes, where the expectant mother gives birth to a tiny baby named Jesus. All the while, the angels, shepherds, and wise men worship Him and try to keep Him safe. The Night before the First Christmas is based on the story from Matthew 1:13-2:18 and Luke 2:1-21. The author hopes that not only will this story spark the imagination of children and adults alike for many generations to come but will also be used to tell the beginning of the gospel.

I wrote this as a poem for a poetry book. Before even being published, a pastor friend who read it wanted me to recite it as part of their church Christmas program. In doing so, one of the leaders of that church wanted a copy to read on Christmas Eve to his grandchildren. This year, another church asked if they could build their upcoming Christmas program around this poem. It has been so well received by all who read it, I thought it would be a perfect book for the young and old, and one you may consider reading to your children, or grandchildren each Christmas eve. The Christmas story is also told in one other place in the Bible, and the scripture for that is below. Matthew 1:18-2:12 In reading Chapter two, you will realize that the ‘Three Kings’ came a few years later, and at that time, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were living in a house.

Rhyme to the meter of "Night before Christmas."