  | How does Santa go down the chimney? Author: Barnett, Mac | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
When Santa arrives at a child's house on Christmas Eve, does he go down the chimney feetfirst or headfirst? What if he gets stuck? What if there's no chimney?
| Illustrator: | Klassen, Jon |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: LG Reading Level: 2.90 Points: .5 Quiz: 521479 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (09/01/23)
School Library Journal (+) (09/01/23)
Booklist (+) (12/01/23)
The Hornbook (00/11/23)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 09/01/2023 PreS-Gr 2—Barnett and Klassen confront one of the many mysteries of Christmas Eve. Beginning with an earnest "How does he do it? How does it work?" an anonymous narrator proceeds to pose a series of questions and hypotheses about the possibilities of Santa's descent into people's houses. Does Santa shrink or stretch, pour himself through the faucet, or find a key if there is no chimney? When inside, does he have to wash his sooty suit or use night vision goggles if the lights are off? One thing seems to be certain: "Santa goes up the chimney the same way he comes down." Barnett's tone perfectly captures a child's endless stream of imaginative conjectures, while Klassen's droll idiosyncratic graphite and ink illustrations bring out the humor full force. VERDICT Another hilarious hit that will be a welcome addition to the lighter side of Christmas collections.—Yelena Voysey - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 07/23/2023 *Starred Review* The question of how roly-poly Santa can squeeze himself down any chimney, and even insinuate himself into spaces that have no chimney, is quite a stumper. But this mystery is tackled head-on (and hilariously) by the multi-award-winning team of Barnett and Klassen (The Three Billy Goats Gruff, 2022). Starting with a wordless spread, the book shows Santa in profile against a black background, sizing up a brick chimney. He hands his red jacket to a Boynton-like vertical reindeer and then uses his thick black belt to cinch in his waist. This scene is followed by the big question, “How does he do it?” Then comes a cascade of possible solutions that include shrinking himself down to the size of a mouse or stretching himself out like taffy. More and more tricky situations are laid out, like how he gets into a home without a chimney (cue the image of Santa plopping out like an elongated drop through a kitchen faucet). Klassen’s illustrations, done in graphite pencil and ink and finished digitally, fit the absurdist humor wonderfully. The conclusion—that the narrator has no idea how Santa does it but is glad he can—is a great kicker. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.
