Are You Grumpy, Santa? [Paperback]

Gregg Spiridellis (Author), Evan Spiridellis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 2006 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Sometimes, even the merriest, most cheerful guy on the planet wakes up on the wrong side of the bed. Particularly on that fateful Christmas Eve. . . First off, Santa steps out of bed and stubs his toe on a bowling ball. Then the elves shrink his Santa suit, Mrs. Claus puts him on a diet, and his reindeer nearly crash into the North Pole. When Santa finally reaches the first house on his list, his "bowl full of jelly" gets him stuck in the chimney! Things turn from bad to worse when he's chased by a Parisian poodle and slips on a rigatoni noodle. Santa is ready to throw in the towel, when at his very last house he is reminded of what Christmas is really about-the gift of love. This merrily irreverent picture book, brought to life by Gregg and Evan Spiridellis, will tickle funny bones and touch hearts far and wide.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

It’s not just the Grinch who gets grumpy around Christmastime. Sometimes even the man in the red suit gets out of bed on the wrong side. In this light-hearted tale of woe, Santa stubs his toe on a bowling ball, has to wear his itchy wool suit when the elves shrink his other one in the dryer, and gets stuck in the first chimney he tries. That "bowl full of jelly" belly has apparently gotten out of hand (as a blue-eyeshadowed Mrs. Claus tries to tell him at breakfast). Of course, when you consider that even the Grinch has a change of heart eventually, you just know Santa will come through this crabby mood at some point.

Brothers Gregg and Evan Spiridellis team up on this somewhat bumpy rhyming story with computer-generated artwork. It may never make it on the list of all-time Christmas classics, but it’s a fun little diversion in the mood of the more masterful Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day(Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-A rhyming text that scans awkwardly is paired with computer-generated illustrations to present a didactic story summed up on the penultimate page: "When people do/nice things for you,/the GRUMPIES/disappear!" A potentially humorous idea (Santa is having a very bad day), diluted by a contrived text, results in an offering with minimal impact.-S. P.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (September 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786809973
• ISBN-13: 978-0786809974
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #574,575 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SLJ got it wrong this time, February 12, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Are You Grumpy, Santa? (Hardcover)

as a children's librarian for a large public library i get to buy thousands a books every year and i often turn to school library journal for reviews. i was so surprised at their pan of this book though. i loved it and i think it would be a fantastic read aloud. the illustrations may be a little flat but the rhyme and humor more than make up for it. a lot of libraries don't buy books that get marginal reviews in slj--i hope people will request that their local library get this one. it's a gem!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for All Grumpy Santas, December 12, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Are You Grumpy, Santa? (Hardcover)

Makings of a classic. Great for kids and adults. Beautiful graphics.

Let's face it, the holidays can be rough . . . even for Santa.
Perfect gift for the seasonally overwhelmed.

Gave this book to the grumpy Santa in my life with an I.O.U. for batches of cookies . . . doing my part to be nice.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Santa Book!, September 19, 2005

By 

Tamara B. Varsek (Venus, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Are You Grumpy, Santa? (Hardcover)

This an awesome book, so funny! I read it in both Kindergarten and 1st graders and they loved it. Even my pre-schooler loves it. An all time favorite in my house, even in the summer!