But nothing would stop
their white-whiskered foe.
No matter their efforts,
he just would not go!

This parody of Clement Clarke Moore’s well-known poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas is kid-friendly, clever, and just plain silly. Sure to become a holiday classic of a different kind!

My thoughts: This is such a fun book to read aloud. There is so much humor to be found for seasoned readers (i.e. adults) of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and simply a great story for children. The word play and puns are incredibly clever as is the overall concept of this delightful book.

Three well-meaning knights — Silent, Polite and Brave — are just doing their job (protecting the king from invaders) but said invader (Santa Claus) is trying to deliver gifts to the castle. What ensues is silly antics as Santa attempts various ways of entering a place that has no chimney while the knights do everything they can to stop him.

The illustrations are bold and bright adding a wonderful contemporary feel to the book. Visit illustrator Scott Magoon’s website for a behind-the-scenes look at how he created these fun images.

The Knights Before Christmas is a fantastic gift idea for children this Christmas and sure to be a story you’ll look forward to reading every year. Highly recommend.

For more reviews, information about the author Joan Holub and a sneak peek at some of the illustrations, visit the original book blast + giveaway post from earlier in November.