The Night Before Christmas - A Visit from St. Nicholas Review

The Night Before Christmas - A Visit from St. Nicholas is an iPad app which combines interactive elements with this classic tale very nicely. Options include listening to excellent narration, as well as reading this story on one’s own. Tap the screen to find hidden animations interwoven with the original artwork done by Jesse Willcox Smith.

I like the mix of old and new that this app has to offer. I think that it is very nice to see the original illustrations of this storybook modernized with interactions for the iPad such as lighting candles, opening windows, or even jiggling Santa’s belly. These elements are very effective in adding to the tale, without taking away from the traditional feel. The use of sound effects is nice here too, and I appreciate that many of the interactive hot spots are marked with a subtle glowing star, showing where one should tap, many times adding the finishing details from the classic illustrations such as hanging stockings or sugar plums.

I appreciate the fact that much of the screen is black here instead of a lighter color. This has a very nice effect when reading this book in bed with children since it does not brighten up the room as much as other apps may, possibly keeping kids more alert than necessary. The narration is very good here, and is very effective in telling this story, but being able to read it out loud if one chooses to is also a very nice option.

If you are looking for a copy of this Christmas tale to share with family, I think this is a good choice with some nice interactions to discover that bring a new level of entertainment to this story without taking away from its classic qualities and charm.