Yes, Virginia: There Is a Santa Claus [Hardcover]

Chris Plehal (Author), James Bernardin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: September 28, 2010 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years

In 1897, eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote the New York Sun to ask a simple question: Is there a Santa Claus? The editor's response was a stirring defense of hope, generosity, and the spirit of childhood. His essay has been reprinted countless times since, and the phrase "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" has become part of American Christmas lore.

Based on these actual events, Yes, Virginia is the story of a little girl who taught a city to believe.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Chris Plehal is a writer who works in television, radio, and advertising. In 2009, he wrote and helped produce the Yes, Virginia animated special on CBS. When he's not traveling to strange countries, he lives in New York City with his wife, Tate. This is his first book.

James Bernardin is a versatile and prolific illustrator of many acclaimed books for children. He has illustrated Laura Numeroff's Would I Trade My Parents?, Eve Bunting's Too Many Monsters, and Candy Chand's The Twelve Prayers of Christmas. He has also created artwork for numerous book covers, including Mary Pope Osborne's Tales from the Odyssey series.

James lives on Bainbridge Island in Washington State with his wife, Lisa, and two sons, Wyeth and Bryson.

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; Reprint edition (September 28, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062001736
• ISBN-13: 978-0062001733
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 10.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #466,461 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, Virginia brought to life in a children's book November 21, 2010

By Lori Calabrese "Children's Books Examiner" VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

We've all heard about the heartfelt letter an eight year old girl named Virginia wrote to a New York newspaper asking, "Is there a Santa Claus?" When the editor responded with an emotional and stirring piece about childhood and imagination, the story has been shared for years.

Now the stirring tale has been brought to life in what's sure to become a classic children's book, Yes, Virginia: There Is a Santa Claus. The book recounts the classic holiday tale that asks the age old question every child ponders at some point in their life and brings to life the magic Christmas brings.

Follow along as Virginia is made fun of by the meanest, bossiest, snootiest girl in town who claims Santa is not real. Claiming it's 'baby stuff,' Charlotte sets Virginia on her mission--to prove that there IS a Santa Claus. Virginia visits the library, questions a man dressed like Santa on the street, and finally writes her letter to the New York Sun. But when Charlotte finds the letter in the garbage can and rubs it in Virginia's face, Virginia can't believe it. That night, the man dressed like Santa, who Virginia had met on the street, bursts into the newspaper's office and demands that the editor answer it to give the whole city something to believe in. When Virginia wakes the next morning, she's surprised with an editorial, a message written just for her.

Chris Plehal has done an amazing job of bringing the story of Virginia to life for young readers and every child who's ever dreamed of Santa will especially love the illustrations by James Bernardin.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars delightful book - November 6, 2010

By constance

Format:Hardcover

a wonderful story come to life in both words and illustrations-- takes a well-loved children's story and adds details to make an unforgettable addition to enhance your family Christmas story time

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Cloaked Myth January 16, 2013

A Kid's Review

Format:Hardcover

Virginia O'Hanlon is 8 and fell for Santa. Charlotte may be mean, but at least she knows Santa is just a myth and people pretending he's real. Too bad Virginia didn't listen to her. Her dad doesn't even tell her the truth, but tells her if she reads it in the Chicago SUN then it's true. She meets a man dressed in a Santa suit and even he tries, but he tells her that when he gave his Santa coat to someone who needed it more than he did, Santa is really people passing on the idea of giving gifts.

I don't like the Santa story because it's lying to kids, telling them that some elf on the North Pole brings gifts and reindeer fly when it's really the parents or whoever usually buys gifts. Kids fall for it, I did and felt so silly once the truth came out. Usually other kids out Santa, that's how I learned. While it's a nice story about the Christmas spirit, it just humors people who want to trick their kids to believe in Santa. Santa is more for the parents. They're HORRIFIED that their kids might actually learn the truth. What, they want their kids believing this this myth is for real once they're grown? It's not easy being caught in lies.