THE SPIRIT OF SANTA
From the Angry Little Girls series
by Lela Lee
An illustrated book for young readers about the magic of Santa Claus.
A group of young girls learn the truth about Santa in this holiday-themed book. Readers meet Kim, Deborah, Maria, Wanda, and Xyla as they prepare for various celebrations in December. Deborah plans for Hannukah, Maria makes tamales, Kim unearths her mother’s Christmas decorations, Wanda gathers her Kwanzaa kinara and candles, and Xyla counts down to the winter solstice. Despite their different traditions, all the girls are eager to write letters to Santa. Suddenly, Kim’s older sister breaks the news that Santa isn’t real. The shocked girls realize the adults in their lives have been lying to them. The group heads to the mall to disseminate this devastating information with kids waiting in line to visit Santa. There, an elderly woman shares the story of St. Nicholas, a devout fourth-century Christian who used his inheritance to help those in need. After St. Nicholas’ death on December 6, people gave one another gifts to honor his generosity. His story was shared all over the world and evolved into what people now know as Santa Claus. “We are the spirit of Santa,” the old woman concludes. “Adults keep the spirit of Santa alive for their children until they are old enough to know it is now their turn to be Santas for others.” The girls embrace this idea and brainstorm how they can become Santas. They decide to craft handmade gifts for their loved ones. Lee’s cartoon-style illustrations are colorful, bold, and expressive. The author also describes holiday traditions, like the meaning of Kwanzaa candles, in a clear way that young readers will comprehend. Some quips might confuse young readers, however, like when Wanda confronts her parents about Santa; they reply, “Honey, it’s time we talk about fat old white men and the narrative of their benevolence.” While Lee centers diversity in the book, she also falls prey to stereotypes; Kim, who appears to be Asian, receives a math book every Christmas, and her mother speaks broken English. It’s also unclear why children who celebrate Hannukah and Kwanzaa are so fixated on Santa-related (and Christian-adjacent) mythology. The message of generosity, however, is clearly and warmly conveyed.
A simple, heartfelt story about embracing the holiday spirit.