Dear Santa, Please Come to the 19th Floor [Hardcover]

Yin (Author), Chris Soentpiet (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Ever since the accident, Carlos just isn't the same. He no longer gazes into the night sky, dreaming about becoming a basketball star. He doesn't even practice anymore, now that he's in a wheelchair.

But Christmas is coming, and Carlos' best friend, Willy, knows that if there is ever a time to cheer Carlos up, it's now. And what better to lift his spirits than a visit from Santa Claus himself! The trouble is, Santa has never come to the rough neighborhood where the boys live. Even if he did, how would he get up to the nineteenth floor, with no chimneys and a locked lobby door? But Willy believes Santa will make it . . . somehow.

Yin and Chris Soentpiet, the author-illustrator pair that created the ALA Notable Coolies, bring us a beautiful tale of friendship and hope for the holidays.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Santa never comes here to this neighborhood," says Willy, a Hispanic boy who lives in a high rise. Nevertheless, Willy secretly e-mails Santa a request to visit his dejected best friend: "My pal Carlos is in a wheelchair now and could use a good surprise." Carlos, meanwhile, lobbies Santa on Willy's behalf. Santa indeed shows up on Christmas Eve bearing gifts-and hope. Yin's tale treads a bit heavily, but the urban setting is a welcome addition to the season's lineup. Soentpiet's brings high-wattage lighting and a high-contrast palette to his realistic watercolor scenes. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3-Best friends Willy and Carlos live in a rundown apartment building in a rough urban neighborhood populated by winos as well as hardworking neighbors. Carlos, who has had a spinal-cord injury and is in a wheelchair, is angry and depressed, believing he will never be able to play basketball again, so Willy e-mails Santa with a special request on behalf of his friend. When he looks out his window on Christmas Eve, he sees Santa parallel park his sleigh across the street and rushes down to meet him. They find that the elevator is broken and climb the 19 floors, handing out gifts along the way, including a new basketball for Carlos, when they reach his apartment. This is a powerful, poignant book about dignity and hope in the midst of poverty and despair. Soentpiet's beautiful, realistic watercolor illustrations contrast starkly with the gritty setting, complementing the mood of the text. This is lengthy for a picture book, yet it is a successful combination of fantasy and realism with an important underlying message: the real gift is that of hope.-M. W.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Philomel (September 23, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399236368
• ISBN-13: 978-0399236365
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 10.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,406,470 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it, December 23, 2002

By 

Pat "vicpatjim" (Claremont, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dear Santa, Please Come to the 19th Floor (Hardcover)

A wonderful new Christmas story. It doesn't sugar-coat the realities of a child having to be in a wheelchair, or of urban life, yet it is still positive and heart-warming.
The two friends secretly trying to help each other lends a Gift of the Magi touch.

5.0 out of 5 stars a Christmas story for city people, November 12, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Dear Santa, Please Come to the 19th Floor (Hardcover)

I loved this book, the illustrations are great, and the text by Yin is easy to read, but not 'cutesy'. It's a heartwarming story, and will appeal to most children. I think the appeal might be greater for adults - we can see the basic goodness in the story.