Santa Claus the World's Number One Toy Expert [Hardcover]

Marla Frazee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2005 | Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

How does Santa know how to match the exact right toy with the exact right kid every December?

He knows because he's the world's number one kid and toy and gift expert, and he works long, long hours the whole year through, taking notes, compiling his research, thinking and testing and changing his mind. Then, at last, he gets it all figured out, and on Christmas morning, he makes magic happen.

Celebrated author-illustrator Marla Frazee's fresh, lively take on a traditional subject is sure to become a favorite with young believers everywhere. With delicious humorous moments and a warm, unexpected ending, this book is truly a Christmas treat, one that begs to be read aloud and savored year after year.

(20051101)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* PreS-K. The words are minimal in this exuberant holiday title that explains the extraordinary care and effort Santa puts into his work. It's the images that will truly delight. On each spread, multiple pencil-and-gouache pictures show Santa preparing for the holidays: listening to kids rattle off present requests, taking notes and researching each child, testing and selecting toys. The disparity between the deadpan voice and the energetic, absurd pictures creates perfect comedy: "He finds the best toys in the whole world. He makes sure they are fun to play with," read the straightforward words next to a stream of small pictures showing Santa, clad in outrageously patterned britches and red high-tops, twirling hula hoops around his ample belly, performing somersaults on trampolines, tucking bottles into baby dolls' mouths, and gleefully testing out a unicycle and a pogo stick. As in Rollercoaster (2003), Frazee creates extraordinarily expressive characters and a strong sense of motion in her winsome scenes. Children eagerly anticipating Christmas will thoroughly enjoy this rowdy holiday celebration and its behind-the-scenes, personalized look at a diligent, devoted Santa, who, working alone (there are no elves or a Mrs. Claus in this telling), "gives the exact right toy to the exact right kid, 99.9% of the time . . . no one is perfect. Not even Santa Claus." Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Extraordinarily expressive . . . children . . . will thoroughly enjoy this rowdy holiday celebration."

(Booklist 20050926)

"He tests mechanical toys, bonds with stuffed animals, wraps everything and then carefully selects the right toy for every child."

(Kirkus Reviews 20051001)

"Frazee takes a peek into all of St. Nick''s thorough - but oh, so fun - work..."

(Publishers Weekly )

"A master at creating scenes and moods, ... readers will want to explore repeatedly."

(School Library Journal )

"Effortlessly clever . . . Frazee delivers the exact right book for the exact right season."

(The Horn Book Magazine )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; "A" First Edition edition (October 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152049703
• ISBN-13: 978-0152049706
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,014,884 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great gift!, October 10, 2005

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Santa Claus the World's Number One Toy Expert (Hardcover)

Santa Claus is a pretty smart person. He knows just about all there is to know about kids, toys and the gifts kids want. And in Santa Claus the World's Number One Toy Expert, the reader is privy to the way Santa gets to know all the world's children.

We're shown how Santa makes sure all the toys are fun and learn that 99.9% of the time Santa, through hard work and practice, makes sure that each child receives the 'exact right toy.' The other 1%? No one is perfect, not even Santa Claus.

Children will be drawn into the story of how Santa does what he does. The illustrations are whimsical and add to the explanation.

Armchair Interviews says: The prediction is that children will read this book and dream of their perfect Christmas toy.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Adorable., November 13, 2005

By 

Anne-Marie Gilliland (Near D.C., USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Santa Claus the World's Number One Toy Expert (Hardcover)

I love the illustrations in this book, Santa on a pogo stick, Santa surrounded by all of his empty mugs of hot coccoa after figuring out the perfect gift for every child (perfect 99.9% of the time).

This book is about how the perfect gift from Santa ends up under the Christmas tree.

I just thought this book was adorable, well written and with fantastic illustrations.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Santa, the TRUE expert!, November 6, 2006

By 

S. R. Cummings (Washington State) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Santa Claus the World's Number One Toy Expert (Hardcover)

I just got this book for my son, and now I'm buying a copy for my soon-to-be nieces. This is the best Santa story book I've ever read! It's fun and delightful and you can't help but laugh at the big task Santa has every year. You will NOT be disappointed! The illustrations are fantastic and it will bring delight to your face as well as your children's! A must-have for every family!!