November 2014 Book of the Month Best-selling illustrator Tony Ross has gathered together 24 of the most popular stories about Christmas to make a celebratory volume of the time of year. The 24 stories are designed as a countdown to Christmas – one for every night capturing the different kinds of excitement and how it is reflected in verse and prose. Tony Ross’s own feelings of seasonal joy underpin the choices and fuel this beautiful and moving collection with a personal touch.
This lavishly produced book is the perfect keepsake gift to treasure. Fully illustrated in colour throughout by acclaimed illustrator Tony Ross, The Nights Before Christmas has twenty-four classic festive tales, songs and stories to read throughout Advent or keep as a family Christmas anthology. There are festive extracts from much-loved books including A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame; yuletide poems ('A Visit from St. Nicholas') and carols ('Good King Wenceslas'), together with traditional tales from Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm. This is the ultimate gift for Christmas.
Born in 1938 in Wandsworth, South London, Tony Ross never though about a career in art, but says he fell into it after his dream of being a cowboy disintegrated when a letter he wrote to John Wayne was never replied to.
After Liverpool College of Art, Tony became an art director at an Advertising Agency but after a particularly bad day in the office he gave up his job to go into teaching at Manchester Polytechnic.
His first book was published in 1976 and as well as his own, he has illustrated over 1000 books for authors such as Roald Dahl, David Walliams, Paula Danziger and Michael Palin, which are published all over the world. His series of books written with Jeanne Willis featuring the extra terrestrial teacher, Dr Xargle, has established a huge following of fans. As has his fantastic and fun illustrations in the Horrid Henry series. A TV adaptation of his much-loved Little Princess series is currently showing on Channel 5’s Milkshake.
