The Sights Before Christmas

R. Gordon Moyles is professor emeritus of English at the University of
Alberta. He is co-author of Imperial Dreams and Colonial Realities:
British Views of Canada, 1880–1914, author of The Salvation Army and
the Public, and editor of “Improved by Cult

“It’s Christmas Eve. Barnaby Doyle is in his bedroom. He is so
excited. He feels like his heart is coming right out of his body.
Aaaaaaahhhhhh!!!” So excited is he that Barnaby vows to stay awake the
whole night. But, of course, he can’t, and into his stimulated dream
“rush the Christmas Mummers ... [who] have been celebrating Christmas
in Newfoundland for hundreds of years.” Led by Old Father Christmas,
in come the Turkish Knight, Sir George and his faithful horse, Fred, Dr.
Pepperoni, and the Evergreen Elf (who looks much like Barnaby himself),
who perform their mummer’s play until Barnaby awakes to his most
exciting Christmas ever.

This is a delightful story, told in a lilting cadence that makes it fun
to read aloud to—or to share the reading with—a young child. The
illustrations by Darka Erdelji are just as delightful, many full-page
with a variety of bright background colours, and a full gamut of
Christmasy childlike characters. Though real Christmas mummers might
scare small children, none of these will. Highly recommended.