Santa shares four bedtime stories as he sets about taking regular walking exercises around the forest to get in shape for Christmas. From missing boots and gloves, to a goose stuck in the ice and a rabbit looking for a wife, Santa spreads a little happiness as he goes about his activities.
Supposedly written by Santa himself, along with Edit Engel and Alan Mcbrearty, this is a large format illustrated children’s book that should have been a delight from start to finish. The book is split into four stories that are aimed at everyone from the age of four and up. I assume it’s not intended to be read by four-year-olds themselves, as the text would be too difficult and while the stories are interesting and have some nice educational aspects, the writing is a little clunky with odd changes in the tenses. The book is packed with illustrations and while some are charming, there’s a curious mix of styles, as if the artist got a bit confused halfway through. I’m intrigued too, as to why Santa’s ‘story’ in the product description, tells us that he wears a green suit, when in the book he’s rather obviously wearing the more usual red.
All in all, a slightly disappointing book that could easily have been so much better.
Colin Garrow Books 