A Bit of Applause for Mrs. Claus

Even though Santa gets all the acclaim, behind the scenes, it's Mrs. Claus who keeps everything running smoothly through the busiest time of year at the North Pole. Finally, Mrs. Claus gets the acknowledgment she deserves in this rewriting of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas":

'Twas the night after Christmas
and time for a pause;
Collapsed in the corner
Sat tired Mrs. Claus.

The stockings were crooked,
The house was a mess;
The tree had tipped over
She couldn't care less...

Jeannie Schick-Jacobowitz and Susie Schick-Pierce are sisters and collaborators and a powerful creative team, along with Jeannie's daughter Muffin Drake. The three have collaborated on numerous mini-books and gift books, which have sold hundreds of thousands of copies. Jeannie lives in West Long Branch, New Jersey, and Langley, Washington. Susie lives in Leesburg, Virginia, and Boca Raton, Florida, and is a graduate of the University of Connecticut. Muffin lives in West Allenhurst, New Jersey.

Wendy Malinow has a degree in fine arts and business and has exhibited her work in galleries and museums since 1980. As an illustrator, she has provided illustrations for books published by Peter Pauper Press and Tricycle Press and the American Girl series (diaries and journals) for Pleasant Company. She lives in Portland, Oregon.