“Thank you Mac Barnett and Sydney Smith for another Christmas classic. Through understated but powerful prose and warm, cozy images, this delightful origin story reminds readers that the best gifts we can give others will always be joy and love!”
— Christopher Rose, Andover Bookstore, Andover, MA
Description
Mac Barnett and Sydney Smith team up for an unforgettable celebration of Christmas.
We all know that Santa makes everyone’s dreams come true every Christmas, but it turns out that he needs a little help getting into the holiday spirit himself. Instead of letting Santa get right back to work after he returns home to the North Pole on Christmas morning, his loyal elves want to make sure he experiences the same Christmas cheer he provides for others. With the perfect tree, lots of delicious treats, and, of course, presents, Santa experiences the magic of Christmas for the very first time.
Beloved children’s book creators Mac Barnett and Sydney Smith have unveiled Santa unlike ever seen before, and as a result, created a merry new Christmas classic.
About the Author
Mac Barnett is the New York Times bestselling author of many picture books, including the New York Times bestseller The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse; the Caldecott Honor Book and E.B. White Read-Aloud Award winner Sam and Dave Dig a Hole; and the Caldecott Honor Book and Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner Extra Yarn. He is also the coauthor of the bestselling Terrible Two series with Jory John. Mac lives in Oakland, California.
Sydney Smith is the author and illustrator of Small in the City, which received eight starred reviews and a silver medal from the Society of Illustrators. Other books he has illustrated include The White Cat and the Monk by Jo Ellen Bogart; Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson; and Town Is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz, which was awarded the 2018 Kate Greenaway Medal. His accolades include two Governor General's Awards for Illustrated Children's Books and four New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year citations. His book I Talk Like a River, written by Jordan Scott, has received five starred reviews. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Praise For…
★ "Cozier than a roaring fire and sweeter than milk and cookies, this earns its 'Christmas classic' stripes with flying colors." —STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews
★ "Offering moments of abundance, laughter, and surprise, the creative duo’s assembly of classic yuletide elements gives readers a chance to encounter an old holiday anew—freshly through the eyes of its most iconic figure."—STARRED REVIEW, Publishers Weekly
★ "A feel-good holiday story that will warm hearts for Christmases to come. Holiday collections will welcome this gift."—STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal
★ "Barnett’s wry text is full of affection for his characters, and Smith’s rich watercolor and gouache illustrations infuse both the outdoor North Pole and interior scenes with good cheer."—STARRED REVIEW, The Horn Book
"It is hard to say which is more wonderful, Mr. Barnett’s droll and low-key narration or Mr. Smith’s soft, warm, humorous pictures. Warm and funny and delightful, Santa’s First Christmas is likely to become an annual read-aloud in families with young children." —Wall Street Journal
“Thank you Mac Barnett and Sydney Smith for another Christmas classic. Through understated but powerful prose and warm, cozy images, this delightful origin story reminds readers that the best gifts we can give others will always be joy and love!”
