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An Aussie Night Before Christmas
'Twas the night before Christmas; there wasn't a sound. Not a possum was stirring; no-one was around. We'd left on the table some tucker and beer, Hoping that Santa Claus soon would be here.
Christmas in the middle of an Australian summer means Santa has to find new ways to deliver his presents. The obvious solutions are to don a sunhat, shorts and a pair of thongs, not to mention ditching the sleigh and reindeer in favour of some roos and a ute.
The gentle illustrations are packed with familiar icons cleverly woven into the visual narrative to recreate the warm, comforting, family atmosphere that Christmas is all about.
A special 10th anniversary edition of an Aussie holiday favourite.
Christmas in the middle of an Australian summer means Santa has to find new ways to deliver his presents. The obvious solutions are to don a sunhat, shorts and a pair of thongs, not to mention ditching the sleigh and reindeer in favour of some roos and a ute.
The gentle illustrations are packed with familiar icons cleverly woven into the visual narrative to recreate the warm, comforting, family atmosphere that Christmas is all about.
A special 10th anniversary edition of an Aussie holiday favourite.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
2 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Yvonne Morrison
53 books5 followersYvonne is a zookeeper, swing dance instructor and children’s book author. She has also worked as a schoolteacher of 5 to 12 year olds, a meteorologist and a physicist. Her publications include several picture books which have topped the bestseller lists in both Australia and New Zealand, as well as dozens of educational titles. Yvonne is passionate about animal welfare and loves to travel the world seeking out strange and unusual species.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 3, 2017
This is the type of book that is not helpful to kids! Aussie slang meant for adults. I'm not a prude or fussy, but this is confusing. Okka Aussie slang that as I was reading, felt cringeworthy and silly. Having a small lad that needs engaging and fun reading, this fell short. This was just like the final scenes of the Point Break movie with Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze. The final scene where 'Aussie' surfers were clearly American actors that had a terrible Australian dialect. Neither helpful or true to the audience intended! I know I'm meant to support Aussie authors, but this is frustrating.
February 21, 2025
Our 12 days of Christmas 🎄 reads
Book 13🎄
Night before Christmas 🎄
By: Yvonne Morrison & Kilmany Niland
Was not that impressed with this book. It was way to much Aussie slang that it shouldn't be in a children's book. That's in my opinion, however the whole concept was funny. Using an old ute as a Sleigh and kangaroos as rainderrs is pretty creative.
Unfortunately it's a book that's not for us.
⭐💫/5
@reenes_library
#christmasreads #christmas🎄
#christmaschildrensbooks #readingwithmybabygirl👧🏻❤️
#childrensbooks #readingtime
Book 13🎄
Night before Christmas 🎄
By: Yvonne Morrison & Kilmany Niland
Was not that impressed with this book. It was way to much Aussie slang that it shouldn't be in a children's book. That's in my opinion, however the whole concept was funny. Using an old ute as a Sleigh and kangaroos as rainderrs is pretty creative.
Unfortunately it's a book that's not for us.
⭐💫/5
@reenes_library
#christmasreads #christmas🎄
#christmaschildrensbooks #readingwithmybabygirl👧🏻❤️
#childrensbooks #readingtime
December 24, 2018
Driving a rusty old ute pulled by eight mighty ‘Roos, Santa comes flying into this Christmas tale! Best of all: “Merry Christmas to all, and goodonya, mates!”
December 30, 2009
This is a hoot! Santa wearing thongs and shorts riding through the hot, Australia night in a Ute pulled by Kangaroos. "Merry Christmas to all and goodonya mates!"
December 12, 2018
I love this twist in the tale story. Of course, it's based on a timeless classic but with an Aussie Santa. He has to have sunburnt cheeks, a broad rim hat, red shorts and his bags of deliveries loaded into a rusty ute all pulled through the air by kangaroos. The illustrations by Kilmeny Niland are delightful. This is another Christmas gift that I'm certain will be enjoyed.
December 3, 2022
This is such a delightful book! Christmas in the middle of the Australian summer means Santa has to find creative ways to deliver presents in this rewrite of the famous old poem A Night Before Christmas but with an Aussie twist.
This is a staple Christmas read in our house, it is refreshing to have an actual representation of Christmas in my half of the world, where it is not snowing.
This is a staple Christmas read in our house, it is refreshing to have an actual representation of Christmas in my half of the world, where it is not snowing.
December 11, 2017
Totally cute! Love that Santa gets beer and his reindeer are kangaroos.
December 20, 2017
This was a fun remix of a Christmas classic!
December 22, 2018
Cute Aussie Christmas story.
December 15, 2019
Cute adaptation!
December 22, 2019
This one gave me a giggle and the kids enjoyed it too
December 23, 2019
A very nice children's book.
December 28, 2020
This has been read every single year since we moved to Australia. It's just beautiful and a firm favourite.
December 31, 2022
Old familiar book with Australian cast of characters. Loved the pictures (Santa in shorts and flip flops - it is summer downunder, for example).
December 12, 2016
Today We Did
Twas the Night Before Christmas gets a makeover, Aussie style!
An Aussie Night Before Christmas is quintessentially Australian. Everything from possums to water tanks, Pavlova and Shazza, to beer left out for Santa. There is so much nostalgia in this Aussie Christmas story! An old rusty ute pulled by kangaroos, with Santa at the wheel in his red stubby shorts and thongs. This is pretty much how I imagined he would be lying in bed on those hot summer nights of Christmas eves past. And we always left out beer for Santa to drink, because delivering presents all over is thirsty work! Now all he gets is a cup of milk that has probably soured in the heat…
The story follows the basics of the original, but spruced up with Aussie colour. The language is lyrical and quirky; great for sharing aloud and having a bit of a chuckle. The illustrations complement the text perfectly. They are festively bright, and clear yet detailed. Santa’s flowered shirt really is something!
I love this Australian version of an old favourite Christmas poem; it is perfect to share with my children on Christmas Eve. I hope this is a tradition that will continue for many years to come in our family.
An Aussie Night Before Christmas is suitable for all ages, but could be read alone by lower primary school children.
Twas the Night Before Christmas gets a makeover, Aussie style!
An Aussie Night Before Christmas is quintessentially Australian. Everything from possums to water tanks, Pavlova and Shazza, to beer left out for Santa. There is so much nostalgia in this Aussie Christmas story! An old rusty ute pulled by kangaroos, with Santa at the wheel in his red stubby shorts and thongs. This is pretty much how I imagined he would be lying in bed on those hot summer nights of Christmas eves past. And we always left out beer for Santa to drink, because delivering presents all over is thirsty work! Now all he gets is a cup of milk that has probably soured in the heat…
The story follows the basics of the original, but spruced up with Aussie colour. The language is lyrical and quirky; great for sharing aloud and having a bit of a chuckle. The illustrations complement the text perfectly. They are festively bright, and clear yet detailed. Santa’s flowered shirt really is something!
I love this Australian version of an old favourite Christmas poem; it is perfect to share with my children on Christmas Eve. I hope this is a tradition that will continue for many years to come in our family.
An Aussie Night Before Christmas is suitable for all ages, but could be read alone by lower primary school children.
July 30, 2014
Author: Yvonne Morrison
Illustrator: Kilmeny Niland
First Published: 2005
A fun play on the original with a good Australian flavour in both illustrations and narrative.
Not a lot one can say. It's a Christmas book. It's easy and fun to read. It has fairy bread and Santa's crack. It's set in Summer.
*shrug*
Age:
Read aloud: 3+
Read yourself: 5+
-CR-
Illustrator: Kilmeny Niland
First Published: 2005
A fun play on the original with a good Australian flavour in both illustrations and narrative.
Not a lot one can say. It's a Christmas book. It's easy and fun to read. It has fairy bread and Santa's crack. It's set in Summer.
*shrug*
Age:
Read aloud: 3+
Read yourself: 5+
-CR-
November 24, 2012
Ths is a great retelling of the classic Night Before Christmas with an Australian hot summer Christmas perspective. A fun read every year for both library storytime and Christmas storytime in our home.
December 24, 2015
Every Christmas eve our family reads this along with the more traditional version. It's far more fitting for our sweltering climate (though I'm more likely to watch the Doctor Who Christmas special than sports)
December 12, 2016
A fun Australian version of the classic story
December 15, 2012
Fun. Aussie icons popping up everywhere. Love the clever use of Aussie colloquialisms. My 5 month old baby loves the rhyming words and rhythm.
October 28, 2013
I love the vocabulary from the book.
November 28, 2013
My friend from Australia sent this to me, and I think it's amazing! It's so funny!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews