For those already familiar with my illustrated version of Clement C. Moore’s famous poem, seeing another post about it trotted out again this year might be a deadly bore, but as I haven’t posted about it properly on this blog before and I’m conscious of having gained new readers, I may as well as not.
First published by Walker Books in 2007, the book was reprinted in 2012, and is now in its third edition in 2014: a mini one this time.
This book has done great things for me. I have fond memories of working on it and can still look back at the illustrations without cringing (too much) on the whole. It has garnered favourable reviews and I’ve even received kind letters from readers. It was also the first book to have ever brought me royalties, which was and remains an ever so slightly mind-boggling thing for me. The latest I heard was that the present mini edition is selling like the proverbial hot cakes. It even made an appearance on Irish television’s The Late Late Toy Show.
I am fond of, and grateful for, this book. The pop-up I made for it will probably make an obligatory annual appearance for a little while yet.
Here’s a bit of trivia for you: Each of the reindeer I drew has its own individual pair of antlers, and they were repeated accordingly throughout the book — including for the pop-up.
‘Happy Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!’