The Night before Christmas Deep under the Sea
Written by Kathie Kelleher
Illustrated by Dan Andreasen
A familiar tale with a quaint twist, The Night before Christmas Deep under the Sea is a nice story for a third grade class. Kathie Kelleher takes the cadence and cheerful spirit of Clement C. Moore’s original poem and places the story deep in the ocean. Dan Andreasen has created a merry setting with vivid colors and lively sea creatures.
As a comprehension activity, students could easily create a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting the original tale to this version of The Night before Christmas. Since the rhythm of this book is appealing as a read aloud, it would be fascinating to hear children’s reactions to hearing both tales one after the other. Students should be encouraged to illustrate some of the differences. As a writing activity, students could try their hand at creating a few lines of their own original version of The Night before Christmas set in the setting of their choosing. Students should be encouraged to follow closely the style and pattern of Moore’s original tale. As an extension activity, students may employ their library research skills to find another version of The Night before Christmas at the library and write a journal entry about either their experience in the library or how the new-found book compares to the previously read tales. Certainly The Night before Christmas Deep under the Sea offers plenty of opportunities for students to learn and build on reading and literacy skills.
Title: The Night before Christmas Deep under the Sea- Author: Kathie Kelleher
- Illustrator: Dan Andreasen
- Publisher: Holiday House
- Reviewer: Sharon Schulte
- Hardback: 32 pages
- ISBN: 978-0-8234-2336-1
- Genre: Holiday, Christmas