EASTON, Pa. - s4story -- Paying homage to Clement Clarke Moore's classic "'Twas the night before Christmas," Joe Swarctz and Ralph Greco Jr. release their holiday book, an "Echo City Capers Christmas Special" this week. This eighth book in the duo's children's book series marks their first to be presented in full color, and fleshing out at a full 31 pages.

"It's a colorful time of year; we figured it was time to produce a full-color Echo City Book," says illustrator Swarctz, an Easton, Pa. resident. Not only the illustrator of all the Echo City Capers soft-covers, but Swarctz is also the creator of the Echo City world and its kooky characters.

"Joe came to me with the idea of using "'Twas the night before Christmas," as a jumping-off point," says Ralph Greco Jr., a professional writer born, raised and residing in northern N.J. "And although our story has no relation to the famous Clement Moore poem, it was a fun challenge writing the book in rhymes, something I hadn't done before."

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Echo City Capers features bumbling bad guys and a loveable hero, Nightbat, who solves crimes by stumbling upon them. Influenced by classic "Looney Tunes" cartoons, slapstick silent movies, and superhero comics, as has always been the case with these children's books, Joe and Ralph keep the silliness high and moralizing low.

Joe and Ralph will be reading, selling, and signing copies of an "Echo City Capers Christmas" at socially-distanced outdoor holiday events, bookstores, markets, and craft stores up and down on the east coast and off their website.