‘The Night Before Christmas’ was first published anonymously under the title ‘Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas’ in 1823. Over a decade later, Clement Clarke Moore claimed authorship. Moore was a rather bookish professor and didn't initially want to be connected with such unscholarly verse! He is said to have composed the poem on a snowy winter’s day during a shopping trip in New York which was being carried out via sleigh. Moore claimed that the inspiration for the character of Saint Nicholas was a local Dutch handyman, and the professor dreamed up many of the things that we associate with Santa today – including reindeer and elves.

Simply enter your child’s name, and our Wonderbly elves (and, y’know, their clever computers) will “magically” whip up a book based on the letters of that child’s name. And because it’s a Wonderbly book, you can also select the child’s gender, hair colour, hairstyle, and skin tone. So your child will really feel the book is about them.

We think so! Not only does it depict an enchanting festive quest, but it’s also an effective way of bringing a sense of calm to the most excitable night of the year. Imagine pulling your child (or children) away from their mission to shake every present under the tree, and snuggling down for a traditional Christmas story with a fun twist. Plus, the sense of urgency over Santa’s impending arrival might just hustle them into bed with surprising efficiency. Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night…