Christmas Treasures

PreS-Gr 3—This collection of three Christmas classics, "Twas the Night Before Christmas," "Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus," and "Christmas Story," features colorful yet insipid renditions of the traditional tales. Each selection has barely minimal animation, perhaps a head nod or a tail wag, which will pale before the bells and whistles children have become accustomed to in media. Background music consists of the same two Christmas carols, tinkling softly behind ill-timed sound effects. The only segment that might be useful in schools is "Yes, Virginia," for its epistolary and persuasive essay format and its formidable vocabulary, circa 1897 (skepticism, gratification, supernal), but this would be lost on most primary grade viewers. "Christmas Story" is probably not appropriate for public schools, as Christian scripture is quoted and religious dogma is used throughout, but parochial schools or public libraries might find a use for it.