Written and illustrated by Lynell Lomax, this imaginative children’s book brings the wonder of Christmas Eve beneath the waves, where sea creatures discover that holiday magic can travel anywhere.
In It’s Christmas Eve and All Through the Sea, Lynell Lomax invites young readers to experience Christmas from an entirely new perspective: the ocean floor. On a peaceful Christmas Eve, the underwater world is asleep. Sea anemones rest among the rocks, starfish settle in for the night, and creatures throughout the sea dream beneath the drifting waves.
But the calm does not last for long.
When unusual sounds ripple through the ocean, the sea creatures awaken and set out to discover what is happening. Their journey leads them through colorful coral, kelp forests, clam beds, and schools of fish, where they encounter an extraordinary Christmas visitor. St. Nick has arrived beneath the sea in a beautiful shell sleigh, pulled by eight tiny sea deer and filled with toys for the underwater world.
Rather than simply retelling a familiar Christmas tale, Lomax creates a fresh holiday adventure that blends seasonal tradition with marine imagination. The story transforms the classic wonder of Christmas Eve into a vibrant underwater celebration, where sharks, octopuses, squid, starfish, oysters, puffer fish, and many other sea creatures become part of the holiday excitement.
Written in gentle, rhythmic verse, It’s Christmas Eve and All Through the Sea is designed to be read aloud and shared between children, parents, grandparents, teachers, and caregivers. Its playful rhymes and surprising ocean characters encourage young readers to engage with the story while discovering the variety and beauty of life beneath the waves.
What makes the book especially distinctive is that Lynell Lomax is both its writer and illustrator. Each page is filled with hand-drawn, colorful underwater scenes that bring the characters and their Christmas world to life. From sleepy sea anemones and smiling starfish to a merman St. Nick with a flowing white beard and bright red hat, the illustrations give the book a personal and imaginative charm.
At its heart, It’s Christmas Eve and All Through the Sea is a story about wonder, kindness, giving, and the joy of seeing the familiar through a new lens. It reminds readers that the spirit of Christmas is not limited to one place, one tradition, or one kind of world. Even at the bottom of the ocean, magic can arrive with a sleigh full of surprises.
It’s Christmas Eve and All Through the Sea is a joyful seasonal addition for families looking for a festive children’s story that combines Christmas warmth, creative storytelling, and an unforgettable ocean adventure.
