Review by C.J. Bunce

Two big storybooks for kids from Abrams fuse classic Christmas tales with traditional music boxes built into the books’ bindings.  Previously released is a retelling of The Nutcracker in rhyming verse illustrated by Bodil Jane, and new for this holiday season is Clement C. Moore’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas {originally published as A Visit from St. Nicholas), illustrated by Raquel Martin.  Each includes a classic music box mechanism readers can crank to listen to music cheer for all to hear while reading.  Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker plays on the first book and Deck the Halls plays with Moore’s poem.

Take a look inside each book below.

These are sturdy over-sized books to read with children, brightly colored and illustrated.  Here’s a look at The Nutcracker:

And here is a look inside the newly published ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas:

It’s hard to go wrong with these cheery books to get you into the Christmas spirit.  The Nutcracker is available here at Amazon, and Clement C. Moore’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas is available here.