Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4169 in Books
• Published on: 2009-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 40 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780439774970
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author
LAUREN THOMPSON is the author of several New York Times bestselling childrenÂ’s books, including the much-beloved Little Quack and Little Mouse series and the award-winning picture book Polar Bear Night. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and their son. Jon J MuthÂ’s highly acclaimed picture books are beloved around the world and have been translated into more than ten languages. His Caldecott Honor Book, Zen Shorts, and the sequel, Zen Ties, were both long-running New York Times bestsellers. He lives in upstate New York with his wife and four children.

Customer Reviews

This is one of the best Christmas books ever!!
The Christmas Magic by Lauren Thompson510ri1tclal_sl500_aa240_
Jon J Muth (Illustrator)
Ages 4-8
Scholastic Press (September 1, 2009)
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
I have to reveal a little bit of bias here. No, I am not receiving payment from any publisher. Here's my big naughty secret: I will buy any book that Jon J. Muth illustrates. Buying a book that Muth has illustrated is like buying your own little art museum. His watercolors and pastels make the lovely, inspirational words of Lauren Thompson simply dance and frolic across the pages. This simple take on Santa's preparation for the big reveal will have even skeptics wiping a little tear from the corner of their eyes, glazing skyward and hearing the tinkle of little bells. This one is a keeper and is my new BFF (book friend forever).

PS - if you look carefully, you can see Muth's panda from Zen Shorts on one of the pages.

Unique enough to have some merit
An unusual Christmas story is about the only way to describe this book. There are no elves, no Mrs. Claus, just Santa by himself, getting ready for Christmas Eve. Santa is drawn in a more European style in blue, and with more of a wizard hat. The young reindeer that follows Santa around is a little odd, and facially looks more like the Grinch's puppy than a reindeer. The story also seems a little sad - Santa alone preparing and waiting for the magic to come so he can deliver his presents. Definitely not my favorite Christmas picture book, but unique enough to have some merit.

lovely
A lovely watercolor and pastel illustration shows a slim Santa wearing bunny slippers standing at a window gazing out at the snow with a baby reindeer standing behind him - and the text reads, "Then he knows that the Christmas magic will soon be here" Indeed this quiet story describes a Santa who prepares for Christmas by brushing and feeding his reindeer, polishing his red sleigh, and carefully selecting a special gift for every girl and boy. When the magic evening arrives: Santa and his reindeer rise up into the starlit night. This is not the jolly "ho, ho, ho" Santa who greets children at the mall but instead a contemplative Santa who readies himself to deliver toys when "the night begins to thrum with magic, the kind of magic that makes reindeer fly".
A sublime cover makes Santa look like the wizard he truly is. This is a treat to behold.