The Night Before Christmas

Roger Duvoisin was born in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1904 and came to the United States in 1925. Among his more than 40 children’s books, he is best known for those featuring Veronica the conspicuous hippopotamus, and Petunia the silly goose. He received the Caldecott Medal in 1947 for White Snow, Bright Snow, and a Caldecott Honor in 1966. He died in 1980.

Clement Clarke Moore (1779–1863) was a professor of literature and theology, and the author of the famous poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” which later became known as the famous “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The poem was first published anonymously but was later attributed to Moore. Moore’s text greatly contributed to the modern-day Santa Claus story.