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Librarian's Night Before Christmas
"Santa is appropriately jolly and the elves, exuberant. A library cat and mouse contribute to the antics."--School Library Journal
"This volume will definitely find a place in the hearts of librarians and library lovers."--Review of Texas Books
Due to low staffing, a librarian must spend her Christmas Eve stacking the shelves at a library in desperate need of renovations. After the strain of a long night that has left her feeling "like Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol," she is pleasantly surprised to see Santa and his elves coming to her rescue in a red bookmobile.
"This volume will definitely find a place in the hearts of librarians and library lovers."--Review of Texas Books
Due to low staffing, a librarian must spend her Christmas Eve stacking the shelves at a library in desperate need of renovations. After the strain of a long night that has left her feeling "like Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol," she is pleasantly surprised to see Santa and his elves coming to her rescue in a red bookmobile.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
December 18, 2020
I wanted to love it, I really did. But it was just so bad. Full of horrible library/librarian stereotypes and truly awful attempts at rhyming. Fellow librarians, do yourself a favor and skip it.
August 13, 2016
This is a cute children's book about a librarian who has to spend Christmas Eve working at the library. She's toiling away, shelving books and mending torn pages, when a red bookmobile driven by Santa appears! Santa and his elves jump out to help her.
"Nick was jolly and droll; a white man crowned his head,
And I could tell by his diction he was very well read.
'This place needs some cheer, so let's make a start.'
Then he whistled in elves pushing loaded book carts.
They stocked Hawthorne, Jane Austen, Steinbeck, and Millay,
And for the more macho, they supplied Hemingway.
They shelved new science fiction and tomes from the past
And sneaked in romances for sweet Molly McNast."
After restacking the books, reading to children and enjoying some hot chocolate, Santa and the elves get ready to leave.
"Nick winked at the cat as they dashed down the aisles
And yelled, 'Happy reading, you bibliophiles!'
He loaded his crew and sang from the yard,
'The best gift of all is a library card!'"
The drawings are lovely and festive, and I would recommend the book to any parents wanting to spread some bookish cheer with their kids.
"Nick was jolly and droll; a white man crowned his head,
And I could tell by his diction he was very well read.
'This place needs some cheer, so let's make a start.'
Then he whistled in elves pushing loaded book carts.
They stocked Hawthorne, Jane Austen, Steinbeck, and Millay,
And for the more macho, they supplied Hemingway.
They shelved new science fiction and tomes from the past
And sneaked in romances for sweet Molly McNast."
After restacking the books, reading to children and enjoying some hot chocolate, Santa and the elves get ready to leave.
"Nick winked at the cat as they dashed down the aisles
And yelled, 'Happy reading, you bibliophiles!'
He loaded his crew and sang from the yard,
'The best gift of all is a library card!'"
The drawings are lovely and festive, and I would recommend the book to any parents wanting to spread some bookish cheer with their kids.
December 15, 2015
This book made me laugh a lot, but it's definitely not a book I would share with children unless I felt like spending a decent amount of time explaining the politics and references mentioned. I think the humor would be very lost on most little ones, but I really enjoyed it!
June 22, 2015
Poorly written, unnecessary insults thrown at conservative authors and readers. This is supposed to be a children's book, but it sounds more like a bitter adult whining to other adults trying to get more funding for libraries (something all groups can relate to but this is not the right platform). It certainly has no flow like the original poem or other re-writes.
December 27, 2017
This is an entertaining library-themed version of the classic story, The Night Before Christmas. The story is more for adults (librarians, in particular) than for children, with many of the book and author references reflecting classic literature for adults.
The illustrations are humorous and have nice details. I actually got our girls to sit down with me so we could read it together, and they are old enough to appreciate the humor and many of the references.
Overall, it was a fun read and we all really enjoyed it, but I'm not sure how much it would appeal to younger children.
Our girls were quick to point out when the rhymes didn't quite work, but on the whole it was a witty take on the story and I was thrilled to be able to read it on Christmas Eve.
The illustrations are humorous and have nice details. I actually got our girls to sit down with me so we could read it together, and they are old enough to appreciate the humor and many of the references.
Overall, it was a fun read and we all really enjoyed it, but I'm not sure how much it would appeal to younger children.
Our girls were quick to point out when the rhymes didn't quite work, but on the whole it was a witty take on the story and I was thrilled to be able to read it on Christmas Eve.
December 23, 2024
I absolutely loved this spin on an old Christmas classic!
A librarian is stuck stocking shelves and fixing books on Christmas Eve, and Santa comes in, riding in his book van to help her.
If you love reading, libraries, and Christmas, you'll love this book!
A librarian is stuck stocking shelves and fixing books on Christmas Eve, and Santa comes in, riding in his book van to help her.
If you love reading, libraries, and Christmas, you'll love this book!
December 5, 2015
I suppose I should have kept today's book, Librarian's Night Before Christmas by David Davis with illustrations by Jim Harris, until 24th December but I'm so glad I didn't - plenty of time for rereads before then. A retelling of the famous poem from a librarian's viewpoint the story starts with a very pertinent comment "We toiled overtime at our library here, 'cause the powers that be cut our staffing this year' , rings bells and I don't mean festive ones. Santa arrives to fulfil the poor librarian's wishes though and stocks the shelves with classics, gives books to little children and reads to them having arrived in a flying red mobile library bus. So many quotes I could use but loved this one"Nick chided a censor who wished some books gone. And suggested she scan Fahrenheit 451!" Librarian friends you need to add this book to your collections!
"Nick winked at the cat as they dashed down the aisles,
And yelled "Happy reading you bibliophiles!"
He loaded his crew and sang from the yard,
"The best gift of all is a library card!"
"Nick winked at the cat as they dashed down the aisles,
And yelled "Happy reading you bibliophiles!"
He loaded his crew and sang from the yard,
"The best gift of all is a library card!"
September 14, 2021
I'd wager that most kids won't be that interested. The rhyming is sometimes forced, things like budget cuts (although entirely applicable and true for today's libraries) are not usually interesting to kids, and some unnecessary political commentary just overall detracts.
As a school librarian, I enjoyed this book for the most part, but I think only other librarians will truly enjoy.
As a school librarian, I enjoyed this book for the most part, but I think only other librarians will truly enjoy.
December 6, 2008
Fun for librarians and to add to my collection of books about libraries and librarians. This came out last year, but I just found it in the bookstore on display and had a gift card so it went home with me.
April 14, 2014
I was really enjoying this book at first, but it went on too long and made an Ayn Rand political dig for no reason.
This book is really for adults, it started out cute and humorous but got old pretty quickly.
This book is really for adults, it started out cute and humorous but got old pretty quickly.
February 2, 2018
There are a number of these titles done in picture book format which are a take off on the traditional Clement Moore poem, “The Night Before Christmas”. This one is for adults only , specificaly librarians, as children of picture age would not understand the librianship terms used in the poem. While copyrighted in 2007, the Library I borrowed this title from needs to “weed” this title from their shelves as they purchased it in 2007 and the copy remains in pristine condition, so clean it is and not even shelf wear. I really did not like this title.
August 18, 2022
4 stars- English audiobook
We enjoyed hearing the story on christmas break, with hot chocolade. 3 generations together.
We enjoyed hearing the story on christmas break, with hot chocolade. 3 generations together.
December 12, 2023
I thought this book was really funny and my kids enjoyed it. (Some of the rhyming wasn't the greatest, but it was such a fun book that it was easy to overlook.)
December 18, 2010
This story is a poem based on the famous The Night Before Christmas poem. The rhythm and much is the same, except for the words, which are narrated by a librarian and are all about books and libraries, and Santa Claus too, a Santa Claus who is a library & books fan.
This would make a fabulous gift for any librarian. It is dedicated, in part, to “all the overworked underpaid librarians” and that’s the majority of the librarians that I know.
There were one or two parts of the poem where it didn’t quite rhyme perfectly, but I forgave it, and that’s because the content is so brilliant. I am tempted to quote some passages but I wouldn’t know where to stop, so I’ll restrain myself.
The illustrations were good, some are very good, some didn’t quite work for me. I wasn’t that fond of the way the library cat or Santa look, especially the cat. The librarian and the books and much else worked really well for me; the flying bookmobile Santa arrives in is very cool.
This is a wonderful book for Christmas or anytime for anyone who loves books and libraries and reading, particularly librarians. I liked this unusual Christmas story poem.
This would make a fabulous gift for any librarian. It is dedicated, in part, to “all the overworked underpaid librarians” and that’s the majority of the librarians that I know.
There were one or two parts of the poem where it didn’t quite rhyme perfectly, but I forgave it, and that’s because the content is so brilliant. I am tempted to quote some passages but I wouldn’t know where to stop, so I’ll restrain myself.
The illustrations were good, some are very good, some didn’t quite work for me. I wasn’t that fond of the way the library cat or Santa look, especially the cat. The librarian and the books and much else worked really well for me; the flying bookmobile Santa arrives in is very cool.
This is a wonderful book for Christmas or anytime for anyone who loves books and libraries and reading, particularly librarians. I liked this unusual Christmas story poem.
December 9, 2010
Such a fun book! I've also read and enjoyed Texas Night Before Christmas and The Teachers' Night Before Christmas, but this one is now my favorite! I don't think you have to be a librarian or work in a library to enjoy this book, but I'm sure it helps. It does contain a lot of book and library-themed vocabulary and references.
"Nick boomed from his book van, 'Do one more good deed. Have a real merry Christmas--teach someone to read!'"
"Nick boomed from his book van, 'Do one more good deed. Have a real merry Christmas--teach someone to read!'"
December 31, 2017
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As A and I were in the library we were checking out Christmas books. This book stuck out to me because of the title. I figured it would be a bit funny. For us it wasn't the best Night before Christmas book we have read. The rhyming was not good, some of the references made the younger children would not know. I did like how it brought to light how under paid the librarians and they work really hard.
The pictures were good and A enjoyed just looking at the pictures. She kept getting restless with the story every time I tried to read it to her.
As A and I were in the library we were checking out Christmas books. This book stuck out to me because of the title. I figured it would be a bit funny. For us it wasn't the best Night before Christmas book we have read. The rhyming was not good, some of the references made the younger children would not know. I did like how it brought to light how under paid the librarians and they work really hard.
The pictures were good and A enjoyed just looking at the pictures. She kept getting restless with the story every time I tried to read it to her.
May 24, 2020
Underfunded, understaffed, books falling apart, attacked by censors, this librarian is not having a very good Christmas Eve. But then the bright red bookmobile, emblazoned with a portrait of Shakespeare, shows up at the little library and brings library cheer. Six elves and a Fedora-wearing Santa pile out with gifts of extra books for the shelves, a story time for children, new carpets ... even a portrait of Mark Twain for the wall. Nick even “chided a censor” and suggested she read Fahrenheit 541. There’s not a lot he can do about the budget cutters, however.
A fun Christmas gift for a librarian friend.
A fun Christmas gift for a librarian friend.
December 11, 2009
I LOVE THIS BOOK. Now I know that non-librarians won't really be drawn in by this book. But for a Children's Librarian this book is too cute for words and filled to tbe brim with library humor.
"What happened next didn't seem to be real,
'Cause out of the sky crusised a red bookmobile!
Up to the front steps flew this library ride,
With a portrait of Shakespear airbrushed on the side."
I mean COME ON! How can you not love that!
"What happened next didn't seem to be real,
'Cause out of the sky crusised a red bookmobile!
Up to the front steps flew this library ride,
With a portrait of Shakespear airbrushed on the side."
I mean COME ON! How can you not love that!
November 19, 2020
This book was shelved in the children's picture book section of my local library, and being a school librarian, I had to pick it up!
The perfect audience for this book is not children, however. With references to Ayn Rand, Hemingway, book censors, and pork barrel spending, this is best as a fun gift for one of your adult librarian friends for Christmas.
The perfect audience for this book is not children, however. With references to Ayn Rand, Hemingway, book censors, and pork barrel spending, this is best as a fun gift for one of your adult librarian friends for Christmas.
December 22, 2017
Picture book that is really intended for an adult audience of librarians, it references many of the issues and problems that libraries experience, and it has some clever literary references. But the rhyme is too forced, and it just doesn’t flow.
February 10, 2018
This book reminded me unpleasantly of those "Night Before Christmas in (FILL IN NAME OF LOCAL CITY)" of which there are innumerable iterations to cater to little children in every locale. Its real audience is not children, but rather librarians--and, apparently, we are a pathetic, desperate bunch. Or at least we are depicted that way in this volume. It feels very much like this is pandering to the downtrodden librarian stereotype (who OF COURSE is a white female with a bun and a cardigan) as this person is trapped at work in the library teeming with small, unattended children. Santa himself seems very odd in this one, bringing the children books and merriment along with food, balloons, and a portrait of Mark Twain. I advise you all skip this peculiar title, library lovers.
April 25, 2021
The artwork is such a disappointment after The Three Little Javelinas. The rhymes are awkward, and the theme pandering. The librarian is a white woman. I do like the diss on Ayn Rand... but this book is for librarians and fans, not for children as most will go right over their heads. Too bad.
November 29, 2018
Honestly much better than I was expecting. I mean, it's not classic lit by any means, but it made me smile. A budget strapped librarian gets an unexpected gift from Santa on Christmas Eve...yeah, it's insider baseball and there's more than one librarian stereotype here for sure, but it will make librarians smile and there's nothing wrong with that.
January 15, 2021
3.5 stars -- This a really a book for librarians to share a knowing chuckle over; we get it--the references to budget cuts and book censorship will most likely fly right over the heads of kids (unless they're the children of librarians)!
Veg*n parents note: A reference to Santa setting down to a turkey dinner.
Veg*n parents note: A reference to Santa setting down to a turkey dinner.
January 1, 2017
This book was really cute. It is written in the style and length of a children's book, but I think it would be more appreciated and enjoyed by librarians, library staff and other adult book lovers.
I don't think a child would get most of the references.
I don't think a child would get most of the references.
December 24, 2017
I read this for my son's daily reading time.
This was a cute read. I liked reading this story not only for my son but for myself. I used to work in a library and I think this is such a wonderful perspective.
This was a cute read. I liked reading this story not only for my son but for myself. I used to work in a library and I think this is such a wonderful perspective.
December 25, 2018
Received this as a gift this year and I think it is an adorable adaptation of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”. The story line is for public libraries more so than school libraries but the struggles still hold true. Illustrations are fun and detailed.
November 29, 2016
The Night Before Christmas with a library twist, the language used is aimed much more at adults than the intended audience of children.
January 8, 2018
it was a nice change from the original classic the night before christmas.
December 26, 2018
funny!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews