Mr. Santa

July 29, 2024
On Christmas Eve, an inquisitive black-haired child pounces on the opportunity to pepper Santa with questions when the jolly man himself—who looks suspiciously similar to the figure inside a nearby snow globe—appears in the youth’s bedroom. With boundless energy and curiosity, the child shows Santa around the house and accompanies him on his global sleigh ride. And along the way, the queries keep coming on everything from pets (“Would you like to meet my fishes?”) to preferences (“Dogs or cats, Mr. Santa? You have to choose”) and travel logistics (“Do you stop at traffic lights?”). The series of beguiling scenarios plays out in digital artwork that features black outlines and gauzy textures frequently backlit by snow-flurry-filtered moonglow and streetlights. Human characters are depicted with pink skin. Ages 3–7.

August 15, 2024
A child wakes to find Santa delivering presents, then spends the night peppering him with questions. Caregivers will relate to Santa as he endures a seemingly endless barrage of questions. He is asked everything from "Did you read my letter?" to "Is your belly button innie or out?" St. Nick never replies--he can't get a word in edgewise--but the child is cheerfully undeterred. Still asking question after question, the youngster joins Santa as he delivers more gifts and then heads to the North Pole. The text rhymes, though the rhyme scheme is inconsistent, making for a well-paced if slightly bumpy reading experience. The illustrations have a soft, smudged effect that evokes the feeling of a hazy memory or a fantasy--an apt pairing for the text, since at the book's end, the child isn't sure whether the experience was real or just a dream. The combination of warm yellows and deep blues conveys both winter's cold and the holiday's warmth. Jarvis incorporates fun details, such as a miniature Santa in a snow globe, curious pets looking on, and an elf directing the reindeer landing when Santa returns home. Clad in traditional garb and a pair of small spectacles, Santa is light-skinned, while the child is brown-skinned. The young protagonist's dogged curiosity makes for a wholly original Yuletide tale, infused with the magic and wonder of Christmas. Holiday enchantment.(Picture book. 3-7)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 27, 2024

PreS-Gr 1-A whimsical, dreamlike story told through the curious questions of a young child who wakes up to find Santa in the room. The child proceeds to ask Santa all sorts of intriguing questions and ends up joining Santa on his journey to deliver presents around the world. The illustrations in this book are simply stunning-they have a dreamy, watercolor quality with soft blue tones and gentle lighting. Simple yet evocative visuals bring the story to life and perfectly complement the child's inquisitive questions. The text itself is told entirely through the inquiring questions of the young protagonist, with short, simple sentences that are easy for readers to follow. There is a sense of wonder and imagination that permeates the entire story, as the child's natural inquisitiveness leads to an extraordinary adventure with Santa. Jarvis has crafted a true holiday gem that captures the magic of Christmas through the eyes of a child. This book would be an excellent choice for reading aloud to small groups: It would serve as a wonderful conversation starter, encouraging children to think about how Santa might respond to the questions posed, or to come up with their own curious inquiries. VERDICT This imaginative tale will delight readers with its whimsical tone and beautiful illustrations and is a great addition to library collections.-Haley Amendt

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2024
"Mr. Santa? Is it really you?" A child wakes up to find Santa Claus delivering gifts to their house and proceeds to show him around, pointing out pet fish and sharing gingerbread, all the while asking him questions about the big night. The two later take off in Santa's sleigh, and more questions follow as he makes his rounds. Jarvis has chosen a nice mix of straightforward and silly questions ("Can reindeer talk...Can you eat clouds?") that young children may want to ask, and his digitally rendered illustrations give the book an old-timey feel perfect for an inviting bedtime story. Marva Anne Hinton

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2024
"Mr. Santa? Is it really you?" A child wakes up to find Santa Claus delivering gifts to their house and proceeds to show him around, pointing out pet fish and sharing gingerbread, all the while asking him questions about the big night. The two later take off in Santa's sleigh, and more questions follow as he makes his rounds. Jarvis has chosen a nice mix of straightforward and silly questions ("Can reindeer talk...Can you eat clouds?") that young children may want to ask, and his digitally rendered illustrations give the book an old-timey feel perfect for an inviting bedtime story.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)