_edited.jpg)
This December, Robinson Reading Company is excited to feature A Visit from Saint Nicholas, more commonly known as ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, as our Book of the Month.
Written by Clement Clarke Moore in 1823, this cherished poem has become a cornerstone of Christmas traditions, helping to shape the modern image of Santa Claus and the festive magic that surrounds the holiday.
The poem begins with a quiet Christmas Eve, as a family settles in for the night. But when the narrator is awakened by a commotion outside, they are treated to a magical sight—Saint Nicholas himself, arriving in a sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer! With its rhythmic verse, vivid imagery, and joyful depiction of Santa’s visit, A Visit from Saint Nicholas has captured the hearts of readers for generations.
The Robinson Reading System® edition of this heartwarming poem features classic illustrations. Celebrate the magic of Christmas with your student by reading A Visit from Saint Nicholas—our December 2025 Book of the Month!
Zhou Youguang (Chinese: 周有光; pinyin: Zhōu Yǒuguāng) was born in 1906. He was a scholar who studied economics and linguistics. The Chinese government placed him as the head of a committee tasked with increasing literacy among the population by developing a new writing system. This committee suceeded with the creation of pinyin.
“Pinyin was put into practice in 1958, the year I was born. It is still in use today. It was developed to lower illiteracy in China, and it did. I believe [the Robinson Reading System] can lower illiteracy in English speaking countries… We have one of the most opaque languages. Zhou Youguang took a completely opaque language and made it phonemically transparent. I took our opaque language and made it transparent based on the same theory. I just hope it will catch on. But we shall see.” -Martha Robinson, 2018
