Oh Clement C. Moore...

Vail has an obsession with Night Before Christmas stories, and I have learned that there really is no shortage of them. And they range from the traditional "Happy Christmas to all..." to calling the reindeer formerly known as Donner, Donder. Strange but true, who would think it mattered.

Some of our favorite adaptations:




Mary Engelbreit - now I would not want my house cluttered with her chachki's, but I have to say that her illustrations are packed with details that it will probably take me years to notice. Vail loves it too - she calls it the fancy Christmas story.

Robert Sabuda - he is the master of the pop-up. So beautiful in all whites and the final page with the moving sleigh is spectacularly done. Not for libraries - too many breakables, but perfect for families.

The Dinosaurs' Night Before Christmas - for when you get sick of reading The Night Before Christmas - still in poetic form but with a twist. The dinosaur illustrations are fun and not scary.

Christmas for a 3-year-old

Went to the mall yesterday with Vail. I think that Santa Claus must be the absolute scariest being in a 3-year-old's imagination. I thought Vail was going to pee in her pants when we walked by Santa yesterday. She wanted to see him, but "from very far away, Mommy." And then she asked if he was going to stay for a while when he dropped off the presents. And she asked that he use the door rather than the chimney.

I think she's thinking if Santa can come down the chimney, any rif-raf can come down the chimney.

I told her I slept very well last night. "No monsters came in your room, Momma." "No, sweetie, monsters are only in storybooks and movies." Silence. "Oh." But Santa Claus is real and he's just coming down the chimney. I bet if that huge man can come down the chimney, monsters can.

oh, great.