THE SANTA BOOK

Eby presents a picture book for kids who are ready to hear the truth about Santa Claus.

The book starts by acknowledging that some things about Santa don’t add up: How does he fit toys for every child in one sack? How does he deliver gifts for everyone in one night? The book opens with a letter to its young readers: “The person holding this book believes you possess the wisdom, kindness, and strength to be trusted with the message you are about to hear. It is both a wonderful gift and a great responsibility.” The unexpected revelation is that Santa is real. The narrator explains that there’s no single person named Santa who lives at the North Pole; instead, Santa is clearly shown to be made up of many caring, generous people—each of whom has taken an oath to “act kindly” and spread joy, to give of themselves, and to protect young believers in the traditional Santa. The book is filled with Harper’s largely sepia-toned cartoon illustrations, which are effectively brightened by red details and powder-blue backgrounds. The gentle narration manages to maintain a sense of magic around a concept of Santa that focuses on collective kindness, which ameliorates the ultimate reveal.

A surprising book about the existence of Santa that emphasizes cooperation.