Do the reindeer talk?
And can I ride your sleigh?
Even before you open the cover, this book makes you love
it just a little bit.
It has raised lettering, slightly glittering stars, a crescent moon and a cloud upon which sits Santa (with the kindest, warmest face you’ll ever see).
Then to top it off, a small girl sits gazing up at him, so that you just know there will be lovely things unfolding.
Everything about this book feels warming and hopeful.
Told in age-appropriate, loosely rhyming questions, the
book uncovers what small children everywhere would ask Santa if they too met
him!
Our small friend in yellow pyjamas spends Christmas Eve
showing Santa her fish, playing him the recorder and finding out about some of
his favourite things, too.
The illustrations are soft and dreamy to deftly convey
the wonder of Christmas – I’m not quite sure how they sparkle so. It could be
the combo of light line work with washes of watercolour, or the light-filled
stars and lamps and movement, or just the sheer joy of it all.
The endpapers are a sky full of stars, snowflakes and a
tiny, tiny sleigh making its way across the book.
And of course, the book contains surprises that I won’t
spoil here in this review. Suffice to say that should you be lucky enough to
snaffle a copy, I predict that Mr Santa will be on high rotation for
years to come.
Divine.
Title: Mr SantaAuthor/Illustrator: Jarvis
Publisher: Walker Books, $24.99
Publication Date: 2 Oct 2024
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781529511574
For Ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book