This is a question that has been asked by millions of children around the world through multiple decades of Christmas. Everyone is preparing for the special day with family, friends and neighbours, and the anticipation of presents grows in children’s hearts.

But then the spark of a thought appears and blooms, and is often spoken,

“How does Santa go down the chimney?”

 

Santa is a person, is he not? But a person can’t fit down a chimney. So many chimneys are even smaller than they used to be – just round tubes with special lids on them so the birds can’t get in. So how does Santa do it?

This book explores all the possibilities that Santa has as he stands on a snowy roof, looking at a chimney. With a little Christmas magic of course.

Does he tighten his belt?

Or shrink himself down to the size of a mouse?

Does he go headfirst… or feet first?

 

Then there’s another question often asked at Christmas by curious young minds.

“How is Santa going to deliver the presents, because we don’t have a chimney?”

This book portrays all the ways Santa could enter a sleeping house without a chimney.

Maybe Santa knows about the key under the flowerpot…?

 

There are other practical things to consider. Why doesn’t the family dog bark, and how does he keep his floofy white beard and red and white suit clean after sliding down a chimney?

All these questions and more are asked in this delightful picture book to share with wee ones as Christmas approaches. A perfect invitation for children to imagine for themselves how Santa leaves the gifts while they sleep.

This story is full of humour in both the text and the distinctive style of Jon Klassen’s illustrations. I loved the final conclusion which encompasses the spirit of Christmas.

Definitely one to treasure.

Author – Mac Barnett

Illustrator – Jon Klassen

Picture Book

(2023, Walker Books, Christmas, Wonder, Mystery, Houses, Homes, Questions, Chimneys, Santa, Magic, Santa, Father Christmas, St Nicholas, St Nick, Humour, Funny)