The Lobsters' Night Before Christmas - by Christina Laurie (Hardcover)

About the Book

A coastal Christmas tale sure to delight fans of Clement C. Moore's classic Christmas poem

Book Synopsis

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 eelgrass throughout the book!

Review Quotes

"A wonderful book that makes a familiar theme resonate and turns it into a seagoing gift for both children and young-at-heart adults." Jim Coogan, author of Clarence The Cranberry that Wouldn't Bounce

"Christina Laurie knows how to decorate a child's world with magical word choices in both prose and poetry. I couldn't be more more happy about this picture book." Joan Walsh, Founder of Cape Cod Children's Writers, author, writer

"Here, our beloved Christmas story is creatively translated into a tale from lobster-land. We follow Santa Claws into the depths of the sea, distributing his precious gifts and meeting its denizens, all illustrated in poetical watercolors by Elizabeth Moisan. In the process we learn quite a bit about the unexpectedly complex life and habitat of the star of the show, well beyond its familiar appearance on the dinner plate or clambake. An original mixture of folklore, poetry and marine biology on a tableau of visual artistry." Jelle Atema, Ph.D. Proffesor Emeritus of Biology, Boston University Marine Program, and Visiting Investigator, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Woods Hole, MA

"What a fun and fascinating experience to have a lobster arriving instead of Santa Claus and minnows replacing the tired old reindeer. The illustrations are full of action and give the viewer much room for added imagination. A must share with the children, grandchildren, and parents." Suzanne M. Packer, nationally exhibiting artist, first director of the Cape Cod Museum of Art, winner of the Muse Artist Award, Cape Cod Museum of Art.

"With rollicking rhymes and a creative twist, Christina Laurie adds a fun new version of A Visit from St. Nicholas to your holiday bookshelf. Through Elizabeth Moisan's soft watercolor illustrations, the reader feels the ocean's gentle movement. The Lobsters' Night Before Christmas will delight young readers." Becky Hall, Author of Morris and Buddy and A is for Arches

About the Author

Christina Laurie, internationally published poet, is a former newspaper reporter and editor. Author of several children's books, a Cape Cod alphabet book, a daily devotional book, and middle-grade fantasy, she has spent her summers and retired life on Cape Cod. Elizabeth Moisan has worked professionally as an artist since graduating from Parsons School of Design in 1970. She is retired from her 43-year career working as a carpet designer in the home-furnishings industry and is currently working as an illustrator and book designer. She is the author of Master of the Sweet Trade: A Story of the Pirate Samuel Bellamy, Mariah Hallett, and the Whydah.