THE LOBSTERS' NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
by Christina Laurie
Illustrated by Elizabeth Moisan
Schiffer Publishing
32 pages
ages 4 to 8
Creatures of the ocean celebrate Christmas Eve in an undersea retelling of "A Visit by St. Nicholas" by Rev. Clement C. Moore. Under the waves and surrounded by swaying ocean eel grass, Sea Santa makes his yearly Christmas journey. Pulled in his clamshell sleigh by his eight faithful minnows, beautiful watercolor paintings illustrate his visit to a family of lobsters. Told in sweet and clever rhyme, The Lobsters' Night Before Christmas combines a holiday classic with delightful newness. After the poem, children can learn fun facts about lobsters, such as what they look like, what they eat, and how they molt. See if you can find the lobster hiding in the eel grass throughout the book!
MY TIDBITS
Every page rings a true love for lobster, while taking a sea spin on the most well-known Christmas poem.
Following true to The Night Before Christmas, the author switches things up just a little bit. Lobsters and their life under the water become the setting and characters with a new twist of words. Some moments will cause grins, while others a pause for wonder or thoughts. But when Sea Santa arrives, the magic takes over as it should.
While the change to the familiar poem is cute, this story also helps young listeners to learn more about lobsters and gain a greater respect for the creature. It's obvious that lobster love abounds on every page, along with a care for the sea. At the end of the book, there are some more tidbits and basic facts about lobsters.
The illustrations are done in watercolor and are beautiful. The life of the sea comes across in such a way which awakens the fantasy, while still presenting a fairly realistic scene (in so far as possible). It's fun simply to flip through the book and get lost in the undersea world.
And here they are...
The Author...
Christina Laurie has won many poetry prizes since her first haiku was published in 1976, and her work has appeared around the world. A United Methodist minister for 12 years, Christina now resides on Cape Cod with her cats and a variety of critters that hang out behind her home. She is a member of numerous poetry associations and has served as national chaplain with the National League of American Pen Women. She currently lectures and teaches in schools, churches, women's groups, and libraries.
The Illustrator...
Elizabeth Moisan, a native New Yorker, has worked professionally as an artist since graduating from Parsons School of Design. She is retired from working as a carpet designer and currently works as an illustrator and book designer. She is an Arts and Letters member of the National League of American Pen Women, the founding host of two literary programs, and a member and former facilitator of a writing group. She lives on Cape Cod and is the author of an historical novel.
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