The Christmas Genie [Hardcover]

Dan Gutman (Author), Dan Santat (Illustrator)

Book Description

It's the last day of school before Christmas vacation and Alex, Chase, and the rest of Mrs. Walter's fifth-grade class couldn't wish more for that final bell to ring.

But the day takes a crazy turn when a mysterious meteorite crashes through their classroom window and a genie pops out. He will grant just one wish for the whole class to share. Be careful what you wish for!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5–When a genie named Bob pops out of a meteorite after crashing through the window of Mrs. Walters's fifth-grade classroom, he grants the students a collective wish as reward for his release. There's just one hitch–they have only an hour to decide what that wish will be (Bob is cranky after being cooped up for thirteen million light years). What follows is a lively, thought-provoking, and hilarious discussion of the merits and drawbacks of each of their wishes as they attempt to arrive at a decision democratically. Snarky Bob interrupts their provocative and often-heated banter with audacious quips, including digs at Santa Claus, with whom he allegedly grew up. Gutman packs plenty of history, science, and ethics lessons in this fun, well-paced fantasy that happens to take place at Christmas, but will be enjoyed at any time of year. This book is laugh-out-loud funny from page one.–Linda Israelson, Los Angeles Public Library END

From Booklist

Rising out of a meteorite that lands in Chase’s fifth-grade classroom, a genie offers the class a Christmas wish if they can all agree on one in 40 minutes. They suggest everything from a wall-sized TV to peace on earth, but they can’t settle on one choice. The suspense mounts as Chase’s classmates’ wishes—drawn one by one from a bowl—become more and more preposterous, the arguments against them become louder, and the clock ticks. Structurally easier to follow than Gutman’s The Homework Machine (2006), the first-person narrative here moves chronologically and inexorably to a surprising climax. Supposedly “kind of into science stuff,” Chase makes a basic mistake about the winter solstice on the third page that savvy middle-grade readers will catch, but that shouldn’t lessen their enjoyment of the story. Two lessons are clearly stated: think now about your goals and dreams, and be careful what you wish for. Readers may be laughing too hard to notice. Illustrations not seen. Grades 3-6. --Kathleen Isaacs

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers; 1 edition (October 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416990011
• ISBN-13: 978-1416990017
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,065,988 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

This is hard. I'm a pretty regular Jersey guy who spent fifteen years trying to write newspaper articles, magazine articles, screenplays, books for adults, and just about everything else before I discovered the one thing I'm good at--writing fiction for kids. I aim for kids who DON'T like to read, and hopefully the kids who DO like to read will enjoy my stuff too. For all the gory details about me, check out my web site.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great gift, November 12, 2009

By 

maria (ohio) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Christmas Genie (Hardcover)

This was a great holiday gift for my son's 5th grade teachers and our library! I don't usually shop this early for Christmas, but I could not resist giving it to them early. Dan Gutman is ever popular and the illustrations by Dan Santat throughout the book are way cool! It's a quick read and a clever story.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Son's book club loved it, December 26, 2009

By 

Turbobks "Turbobks" (CT) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Christmas Genie (Hardcover)

My son chose this book to read for his book club (a few 4th grade friends). My son really liked the style the book was written in; he told me it was unique. His buddies enjoyed it very much too.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Our 2010 family Christmas book, December 27, 2010

By 

Vanderwahoo (Wilmington, DE) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Christmas Genie (Paperback)

Our family chooses a Christmas book to read out loud as a family in December. This was a great choice. The kids didn't want us to stop reading at night, even though we try to pace ourselves to end the book on Christmas Eve. The premise was very cute - a genie landing in a 5th grade class just before christmas vacation and granting the class only one wish. The kids choose to deliberate the merits of each others wishes and provide some great insights into why each wish is good or bad. This class is more educated in the area of global politics than most fifth grade classes. But, the language was right on target for my girls, ages 6, 10 & 13 - yes my 13 year old laughed along and set aside time to listen. The book was contemporary but the story a classic. Toward the end I was wondering how the book would wrap up. The author did a nice job and I would HIGHLY recommend this book for any family member.