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The Night Before Christmas

By Clement C. Moore, Lauren Semmer

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A fresh and contemporary adaptation of a beloved Christmas classic that highlights a Black Santa and BIPOC family from New York Times bestselling children’s book creator Lauren Semmer.


Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!


On Christmas Eve night, a family has set out cookies and milk for a special visitor while a delightful winter cityscape dazzles outside. Though a city never quite sleeps, the family inside—including the cat—are all snuggled up tight. But when a clatter wakes up one child and they glimpse St. Nick’s sleigh and eight reindeer from the window a magical meeting occurs.


New York Times bestselling illustrator Lauren Semmer reimagines a holiday favorite with her signature vibrant and playful art, perfect for families to read and pore over during the Christmas season. This special foil-stamped book features a jolly BIPOC Santa and family, highlighting Black joy and love in this cozy, re-imagined holiday classic.

ISBN: 9780063373594
Imprint: Clarion Books
On Sale: Sep 30, 2025
List price: $24.99
No of pages: 40
Trim Size: 9.350 in (w) x 11.300 in (h) x 0.450 in (d)
BISAC 1: JUVENILE FICTION / Holidays & Celebrations / Christmas & Advent
BISAC 2: JUVENILE FICTION / Poetry (see also Stories in Verse) *
BISAC 3: JUVENILE FICTION / African American & Black
BISAC 4:
BISAC 5:
BISAC 6:

Clement C. Moore

Biography

Clement C. Moore (1779–1863), an American scholar and poet, first wrote “The Night Before Christmas” in 1822 to entertain his children. A friend submitted it to a local newspaper, the Troy Sentinel, where it was published on December 23, 1823. Moore’s delightful description of St. Nicholas and his eight flying reindeer has since become the definitive portrait of Santa Claus.

Lauren Semmer

Biography

Lauren Semmer is an artist, children’s book creator, and designer whose work has been featured everywhere from textile designs and children’s apparel to the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Real Simple magazine. She has illustrated several picture books, including the NYT bestselling title The ABCs of Black History and The ABCs of Women’s History, both written by Rio Cortez, and the CCBC Choices selection To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights, by Angela Dalton. Her author-illustrator debut is Poppy’s Family Patterns. Her favorite holiday tradition is decorating festive cookies for Santa. Visit her at laurensemmer.com.

Emana Rachelle

A fresh and contemporary adaptation of a beloved Christmas classic that highlights a Black Santa and BIPOC family from New York Times bestselling children’s book creator Lauren Semmer.


Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!


On Christmas Eve night, a family has set out cookies and milk for a special visitor while a delightful winter cityscape dazzles outside. Though a city never quite sleeps, the family inside—including the cat—are all snuggled up tight. But when a clatter wakes up one child and they glimpse St. Nick’s sleigh and eight reindeer from the window a magical meeting occurs.


New York Times bestselling illustrator Lauren Semmer reimagines a holiday favorite with her signature vibrant and playful art, perfect for families to read and pore over during the Christmas season. This special foil-stamped book features a jolly BIPOC Santa and family, highlighting Black joy and love in this cozy, re-imagined holiday classic.

ISBN: 9780063373594
Imprint: Clarion Books
On Sale: Sep 30, 2025
List price: $24.99
No of pages: 40
Trim Size: 9.350 in (w) x 11.300 in (h) x 0.450 in (d)
BISAC 1: JUVENILE FICTION / Holidays & Celebrations / Christmas & Advent
BISAC 2: JUVENILE FICTION / Poetry (see also Stories in Verse) *
BISAC 3: JUVENILE FICTION / African American & Black
BISAC 4:
BISAC 5:
BISAC 6:

Clement C. Moore

Biography

Clement C. Moore (1779–1863), an American scholar and poet, first wrote “The Night Before Christmas” in 1822 to entertain his children. A friend submitted it to a local newspaper, the Troy Sentinel, where it was published on December 23, 1823. Moore’s delightful description of St. Nicholas and his eight flying reindeer has since become the definitive portrait of Santa Claus.

Lauren Semmer

Biography

Lauren Semmer is an artist, children’s book creator, and designer whose work has been featured everywhere from textile designs and children’s apparel to the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Real Simple magazine. She has illustrated several picture books, including the NYT bestselling title The ABCs of Black History and The ABCs of Women’s History, both written by Rio Cortez, and the CCBC Choices selection To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights, by Angela Dalton. Her author-illustrator debut is Poppy’s Family Patterns. Her favorite holiday tradition is decorating festive cookies for Santa. Visit her at laurensemmer.com.

Emana Rachelle