Santa's Last Present [Hardcover]

Marie-Aude Murail (Author), Elvire Murail (Author), Quentin Blake (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2–Although he no longer believes in Santa, Julian writes a letter to him in order to placate his parents. He receives the wished-for video-game system, but ends up preferring a little wooden steam engine that mysteriously appears under the tree. Because he isn't certain if the train is really meant for him, Julian becomes worried that Santa will take it back the following Christmas. However, the next year, Santa not only lets him keep the toy, but provides four shiny boxcars as well. The story is charmingly told, but some children may be a bit puzzled by Julian's adoration of the train. Blake's colorful cartoons are as appealing as ever. The small trim size and cream-colored pages go well with the quiet story, making this a good choice for libraries that have plenty of big, jolly Christmas books and want some more thoughtful fare.–E. M.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 2. To humor his enthusiastic parents, Julian pretends to believe in Santa "for one more year." He posts a letter to the North Pole, and on Christmas, he's pleased to find the expensive video game he requested. There's also a simple toy train that puzzles Julian's parents. "It must have fallen out of Santa's sack," reasons Julian's father, who adds: "If . . . nobody claims it, at the end of a year and a day, it's yours." Throughout the following year, it's the train, not the expensive electronic game, that entrances Julian, and as the next Christmas approaches, he worries that Santa will reclaim his toy. Should he remind Santa? Should he behave badly so Santa won't come at all? Blake's typically charming, scribbly color-washed drawings illustrate the Murail sisters' slim, engaging story. There are a few undeveloped points (particularly the suggestions that the train is alive), but children who, like Julian, are ready to renounce Santa, will enjoy the suggestion that holiday magic may be real after all. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishers (September 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561453196
• ISBN-13: 978-1561453191
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,621,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting New Children's Book for the Holidays, September 23, 2004

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Santa's Last Present (Hardcover)

To please his parents, Julian pretends to believe in Santa Claus for just one more year. So, he sends a letter to the North Pole requesting what his heart desires, a video game system. And, on Christmas morning, Julian awakes to find the video game system tucked snuggly under the tree. However, there is also another present accompanying it. A simple toy train. Julian's parents know nothing about the train, for they haven't bought it, the way they bought him the video game system. Julian's Father explains that it must have fallen out of Santa's sack, and that if no one claims the toy train within a year and a day, it is rightfully his. Throughout the entire year Julian spends every waking moment with the toy train. He even brings it on vacation with him. But as Christmas draws nearer, Julian begins to worry about the possibility of Santa Claus reclaiming the toy, and giving it to someone else.

In this wonderful new children's book by Marie-Aude Murail and Elvire Murail, we are exposed to an unconventional holiday book, that poses a unique question, "Can Santa Claus really take back toys if they aren't intended for us?" Children will find the prose engaging, and the illustrations by Quentin Blake (best known for his illustrations of Roald Dahl children's books) enchanting. This is a wonderful new holiday book that is sure to please all this Christmas season.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

5.0 out of 5 stars Quirky, Delightful Holiday Tale, December 22, 2010

By 

Janet Boyer "Author, Blogger, Radio Host" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Santa's Last Present (Hardcover)

"Since his parents couldn't stop talking about Santa Claus, Julian had decided to pretend to believe in him for another year. He wrote him a letter to ask for a present." -- From Santa's Last Present

Written by Marie-Aude and Elvire Murail and illustrated by Quentin Blake (who also translated the original text from French to English), Santa's Last Present offers the rare holiday tale where you just don't know what will happen next.

Julian asks for a video game system, and he gets it. But he also gets a mysterious gift that no one can account for. Who brought it? Why does it enthrall Julian more than the game system? What will happen NEXT year?

This heartwarming tale of a boy growing up, but still tethered to the magic of Christmas, was an unexpected and touching read. My 12-year-old enjoyed it, too (in fact, he read it twice in one day!)

-- Janet Boyer, author of Back in Time Tarot