A Visit from St. Nicholas to a Liberated Household

by Judith Viorst

"From the original written in 1823 by Clement Clarke Moore" (cover says).

Genres: Humor, Poetry, Fiction

45 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Judith Viorst is an American writer, newspaper journalist, and psychoanalysis researcher. She is known for her humorous observational poetry and for her children's literature. This includes The Tenth Good Thing About Barney (about the death of a pet) and the Alexander series of short picture books, which includes Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (1972), which has sold over two million copies.
Viorst is a 1952 graduate of the Newark College of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. In 1968, she signed the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War. In the latter part of the 1970s, after two decades of writing for children and adults, Viorst turned to the study of Freudian psychology. In 1981, she became a research graduate at Washington Psychoanalytic Institute after six years of study.

Reviews

[Brenda Damen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wasn't the exact version my mom read to me every Christmas eve, but the words were so magical to me as a child that I waited, almost holding my breath, for my favourite part: "As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky." I didn't know exactly what those words meant when I was small, but when I heard them once a year, I knew words were going to be a big part of my life.

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

This addition of tongue-in-cheek politically correct footnotes to the classic Christmas poem is the first work for adults by Viorst that I've read. It was a cute idea, but neither the text nor illustrations had the charm of her books for kids.

[Meriam Traya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A feminist take on ‘Twas the Night before Christmas. A very funny read.

[AJNels · Rating 4 out of 5]

“He has a wide face [actually, the face is described as broad, a word which in other contexts is exceedingly derogatory to women and ought, whenever possible, to be extirpated].”

Got this as an amazing gag gift and must say it feels surprisingly contemporary. It made me chuckle. The illustrations are beautiful.

[Britani Poulsen]

A Visit from St. Nicholas('Twas the Night before Christmas)
Clement Clarke Moore

The genre of this book is Traditional because it is told all around the world. It is usually part of a tradition parents usually read it to there kids every Christmas Eve. It is well know story by most people of all ages. I love this story because it just bring joy. I love Christmas to see everyone's smiling and this story it tells you how everyone was a sleep and people with kids usually say Santa(St. Nichole's) can't come till your asleep but then Santa comes and he's so happy and joyful and that's what Christmas is about.

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

#101 Not for children this must be read ahead before you decide at what level to share it. I always love Judith Viorst.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing "Night before Christmas" in a liberated household.

[Cris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent attempt at a tongue-in-cheek feminist adaptation of the classic tale. I wasn't impressed by the illustrations, though.

[Candy B · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read this lovely tongue-in-cheek book based on the classic Christmas poem at our Book Club Holiday party. Great illustrations to be viewed and read with a wonderful sense of humor.