It's two days before Christmas and a quiet Rhode Island town is about to be visited by a number of unexpected guests-including a pair of very different Krampuses. Are they there to protect the innocent, or to exact revenge for a long-forgotten tragedy? Some curses fade over time, while others grow stronger. In this homage to Dickens's A Christmas Carol, a young boy named Christoph and his friends must find some way to atone for a wrong committed a generation before they were born. Praise for The Night Before Krampus: "A wicked good story that will appeal to readers of all ages. Destined to become a Christmas classic-excuse me, a Krampus classic!" - Rodman Philbrick, Newbery Honor Author "Peter Johnson's The Night Before Krampus takes readers through the twisting streets of the other side of Christmas. Will Christoph beat his family's curse and solve the mystery? Or will the Wolf, also known as Revenge, live up to his name? Part mystery, part myth, this book will scare the Dickens out of readers, while at the same time make them want to wish each other a 'Merry Krampus.'" - Kelly Easton, Golden Kite Award Winner Praise for Peter Johnson's Other Books What Happened: "What Happened is the most gorgeously written YA novel of 2007" - Booklist, Starred Review The Amazing Adventures of John Smith, Jr. AKA Houdini: "Poignant and downright hilarious, delivered in a voice that's wonderfully authentic." - Kirkus Reviews, "Best Book," Starred Review Out of Eden: "It's the inexplicability of cruelty that makes this horrifying page-turner so effective." - Kirkus Reviews

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse... And then the clock strikes thirteen and you wake to hear a thud downstairs. Investigating, you discover that your home has been invaded by two red-cloaked, and bearded, strangers. Before you know what is happening, Krampus the Christmas Devil has abducted Santa Claus, and it's up to you to save Saint Nick before Christmas Day dawns and the cruel, birch-wielding, goat-leggéd one usurps the generous gift-giver's position, taking his place forever. He knows if you've been good or bad, so be good for goodness sake... Throughout the course of the adventure, YOU decide which path to take, which risks to brave, and even which of the strange creatures you will meet along the way to engage in battle. Success is by no means certain and you may well fail to complete the adventure at your first attempt. However, with experience, skill, and maybe even a little luck, each new attempt should bring you closer to your ultimate goal. But whether you succeed in your quest will be down to the choices YOU make.

The Krampus, a folkloric devil associated with St. Nicholas in Alpine Austria and Germany, has been embraced by the American counterculture and is lately skewing mainstream. The new Christmas he seems to embody is ironically closer to an ancient understanding of the holiday as a perilous, haunted season. In the Krampus' world, witches rule Christmas, and saints can sometimes kill.

"Twas the Night Before Krampusnacht" is an imaginative children's book that reinterprets the classic holiday poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Clarke Moore, with a whimsical twist. In this story, the focus shifts from the jolly St. Nicholas to the mythical figure of Krampus, often portrayed in European folklore as a counterpart to Saint Nicholas. The book begins on the eve of Krampusnacht, a night traditionally celebrated in parts of Europe on December 5th, when Krampus is said to visit. The story follows the same rhythmic and rhyming structure as Moore's original poem, creating a familiar yet exciting new tale. Illustrations in the book blend eerie and enchanting elements, depicting Krampus in a more whimsical, less fearsome manner. Scenes of snowy landscapes, moonlit skies, and the cozy interiors of a family home add to the festive yet mysterious atmosphere. Overall, "Twas the Night Before Krampusnacht" is a delightful spin on a classic, introducing young readers to a different cultural legend while maintaining the magic and moral lessons of the holiday season.

Set in a small town in Austria in the 1960's, it involves the efforts of Detective Ltnt. Marco Finnand his whodunit-fan wife, Frances, to solve a complicated plot of murder, espionage and intrigue during the Cold War, the central elements of which is a group of ex-Nazis who are striving to re-establish the glory of Third Reich.