<p>In 1822 Clement Clarke Moore wrote <i>The Night before Christmas</i> for his own children. Now, of course, his poem is read aloud to children around the world who are anticipating Santa's arrival. </p><p>This Christmas Eve tradition calls for the treat of Julie Downing's wondrous visual rendition. Her jewel-toned watercolors, vibrant with rich Victorian detail, contain little surprises all along the way. Both children and grown-ups will respond to the luminous images -- the waiting tree, the astonished narrator, jolly Santa and his reindeer, and even the mouse -- as they discover the sparkling humor of a holiday favorite. </p>
