Hello, friends! Today, we’re going to have a fun story time with a special book called “The Night Before Christmas.” This story is written by Clement C. Moore and has beautiful pictures by Charles Santor. Let’s dive into this magical tale!
It was the night before Christmas, and everything was quiet in the house. Not even a tiny mouse was making a sound! The stockings were hanging by the fireplace, waiting for St. Nicholas to arrive. The children were sleeping peacefully in their beds, dreaming of sweet treats like sugar plums. Even Mom and Dad were cozy in their beds, ready for a good night’s sleep.
Suddenly, there was a loud noise outside! I jumped out of bed to see what was happening. I ran to the window and opened it quickly. The moonlight made the snow sparkle like it was daytime. And guess what I saw? A tiny sleigh with eight little reindeer! And who was driving it? It was St. Nick, also known as Santa Claus!
Santa’s reindeer were super fast, like eagles flying in the sky. He called them by their names: “Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen, on Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen!” They flew up to the roof, carrying a sleigh full of toys. I could hear the reindeer landing on the roof with a soft thud.
As I watched, Santa came down the chimney with a big jump! He was wearing a red suit covered in soot from the chimney. He had a big bag of toys on his back, ready to fill the stockings. Santa’s eyes twinkled, and he had a big smile. His cheeks were rosy, and his nose was like a cherry. He looked so jolly and happy!
Santa didn’t say a word. He just got to work, filling all the stockings with toys and treats. Then, with a nod and a smile, he went back up the chimney. He hopped into his sleigh, whistled to his reindeer, and off they flew into the night sky. As he disappeared, I heard him shout, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
Thanks for joining us for this magical story! We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. Remember, if you want to hear more stories, just come back and join us again. Have a wonderful day and keep dreaming big!
Reindeer Names Memory Game: Let’s play a fun memory game with the names of Santa’s reindeer! First, try to remember all the reindeer names from the story: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen. Now, create a set of cards with each reindeer’s name written on one side. Mix them up and place them face down. Take turns flipping two cards at a time to find matching pairs. Can you remember where each reindeer is hiding?
Create Your Own Stocking: Imagine you are getting ready for Santa’s visit. Use paper, crayons, and stickers to design your own Christmas stocking. Think about what colors and patterns you want to use. Once your stocking is ready, hang it somewhere special in your room. What would you like Santa to put in your stocking? Draw or write a list of your wishes and place it inside your stocking.
Observe the Night Sky: Just like in the story, the moonlight made the snow sparkle. Go outside with a grown-up at night and look at the sky. Can you see the moon and stars? How do they make you feel? Draw a picture of what you see in the night sky. If it’s a cloudy night, imagine what the sky might look like and draw that instead. Share your drawing with your family and tell them about your favorite part of the night sky.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hey, I’m Ryan Le God and I’m Craig Toy, and welcome to Story Time with Ryan and Craig! Today’s book is “The Night Before Christmas,” the classic edition by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Charles Santor. Let’s get started!
It was the night before Christmas when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads. And Mama in her cap and I in my cap had just settled down for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Oh yeah, when I hear a clatter, I’m the first one out of bed! I’m right behind saying, “What’s the matter? What’s the matter?” Nothing’s getting past us on our lawn!
Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow gave the luster of midday to objects below. When what to my wondering eyes should appear but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer, with a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick!
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, and he whistled and shouted and called them by name: “Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen, on Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall! Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the housetop the coursers they flew, with the sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas too. And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry. His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself. A wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word but went straight to his work and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, and away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
Thanks for watching Story Time with Ryan and Craig! Now it’s time for shout-outs!
Shout out to Mrs. Costa’s class in Planada, California!
And to the second-grade classes at St. John’s Episcopal School!
Also, a shout out to Pablo in Augusta, Georgia!
And Mrs. COV’s class in Rockland, Massachusetts!
Thanks for watching, and remember, if you want your very own shout-out, just go to Ryan and Craig!
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