It's hard to have kids at Christmas and NOT address the Santa issue. We could have probably avoided it until Luke started school yet Santa is in a ton of books, tv episodes, movies, store displays and he has a million cousins (really just 52 and I honestly had to do math with a calculator to figure out how many, it's always changing you guys) and so we couldn't NOT address Santa.
For the record, we don't "do" Santa. It started with not having enough places to hide presents after they are wrapped so they went under the tree then. And setting realistic expectations (Mom & Dad don't have an unlimited budget!). Then this year I saw a tweet from a Mom about letting an old guy take credit for the work that (largely) Moms do in December. Well, I hadn't thought of that before but YES. I want the credit for making Christmas happen. Yes, Matt helps but he's not really into the decorating and wrapping and baking parts...basically the cookie eating and celebrating with others part (I say that as he's been doing a lot of woodworking to make gifts for some people). So, our kids know presents come from us (and godparents and grandparents) and I hope Luke's not ruining it for kids at school but if they do...I don't feel super bad about it. I'm not doing Santa just so he doesn't ruin it for other kids (definitely not sorry about that, even though we tell him not to tell kids Santa isn't real).
ANYWAYS, even if Santa doesn't bring the gifts we still talk about him and read books with Santa featured and watch movies with Santa. We talk and read about the real St. Nick (I hope Luke's not telling kids Santa was real but died...) It's all just a part of the season. Here are a few books about Santa we've enjoyed.
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Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever by Matt Tavares
Definitely Luke's favorite Christmas book last year and it is a really good one. Dasher is a doe in a traveling circus who dreams of the North Pole. She escapes the circus, tries to find the North Pole and runs into Santa and his struggling horse. Dasher saves Christmas and then Santa helps Dasher save the rest of her family from the circus. Also, very good pictures.
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
A boy is starting to wonder about Santa when a mysterious train pulls up in front of his house and takes him on a magical journey to the North Pole to meet the big man himself. I also enjoy the movie which is a very faithful adaptation.
The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold by Maureen Fergus, illustrated by Cale Atkinson
Santa is not sure Harold exists, maybe his parents write the letters to Santa, the Harold that sat on Santa's lap at the mall didn't seem like the real Harold, and Santa's friend the Tooth Fairy doesn't think Harold is real. Meanwhile, a very real Harold doesn't think Santa is real. I think this is a charming take on the "is Santa real?" even though in our house he firmly isn't.
Santa Baby by Jonathan Stutzman, illustrated by Heather Fox
Santa is getting old and feeling all of his age. He wishes he could be just a little younger...and then Santa ends up A LOT younger. The elves don't understand his new plan for Christmas deliveries around the baby talk and Santa has diaper problems. Santa as a baby just doesn't quite work.
How Santa Got His Job by Stephen Krensky, illustrated by S.D. Schindler
A charming look at all the jobs Santa held before he was SANTA. From being a chimney sweep to a zookeeper where he befriended the reindeer. It actually makes the whole Santa thing make a little sense, besides the fact that Santa never previous held a job that taught him how to stretch time.
How Santa Lost His Job by Stephen Krensky, illustrated by S.D. Schindler
Of course, if Santa got his job he can also lose it. Which he did this year thanks to an overly ambitious elf who designs a machine who can do all the things that Santa can do and more efficiently. Santa doesn't know what to do with a Christmas Eve evening at home! Until maybe the machine doesn't work as well as Santa.
Ho Ho Ho Homework by Mylisa Larsen, illustrated by Taia Morley
A classroom of kids come to school one morning and discover they have a sub. A sub named Mr. Clausen who has a white beard and seems rather jolly. Is this the REAL SANTA? They need to know.
Mrs. Claus Takes the Reins by Sue Fliess, illustrated by Mark Chambers
Santa wakes up on Christmas Eve morning feeling pretty under the weather and this is NOT a good day for Santa to be less than 100%. He can't do his deliveries so Mrs.Claus takes over. I appreciate a good girl power story.
Do you have anymore I should add to our list?
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