Each five page chapter is sectioned off, and there are instructions to take a ruler and gently open the pages, so just one chapter a day can be read. Of course, I didn't want to open the pages, so had to peer down inside the paper to get the story! That meant I didn't get a great view of all of the illustrations, but now I can save it for my grandson. My daughter was a big fan of our advent calendar (a small stuffed Santa moves from one numbered pocket to another), so I think she will get a big kick out of this, too.
Just enough time to get a copy of this fun title to start reading in a couple of days!
September 30, 2025 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Copy provided by the publisher
Santa has discovered that so many children have been good that he is concerned that he won't be able to get all of the presents delivered. His granddaughter, Holly, offers to help, but Santa doesn't want her to be away from her family. Instead, he decides to hold a contest for a helper. To his surprise, a huge number of people show up for a sledding contest. There are four winners; an elf named Ivy, a boy named Nathan, a gorilla named Koko, and Groomph, who is a tactiturn dwarf. In between showing the finalists glimpses of the work done at the North Pole, the four must compete in a variety of contests. They wrap presents, protect decorated trees from kittens, create a candy, navigate mazes and crawling up the chimney, make wooden toys, and put costumes on snowmen. The final contest is creating a Yule Log. Santa is the judge, and eats most of all four logs, making himself ill. The contestants decide to band together to prepare for the Christmas journey while Santa is sick in bed, and one of them has a big secret that is revealed. Santa recuperates, and decides that what he really needs is a whole team of helpers, so all of them are hired and go with Santa in his sleigh to make deliveries.
Strengths: The format of this book was such fun, and I loved that there are instructions for opening the sets of pages each day. There are plenty of pictures, with lots of fun details to look at, and just the right amount of text for a bedtime story. This would be super fun for an eight year old to read aloud to younger siblings! Each chapter ends on a little bit of a cliffhanger, but those pages don't let the reader easily go on to the next day (at least the first time!). The story is sweet, there's a little twist, and of course everyone is a winner in the end. There's plenty of Santa lore explained.
Weaknesses: Isn't Santa magical enough to keep up with the increased demand for his services? If he did need an assistant, couldn't he have just promoted a head elf? Holly might not have been that helpful, but wouldn't all her other family members understand that the family business keeps them busy on Christmas Eve? I had a lot of questions, but I don't think younger readers will.
What I really think: One of my favorite parts was the consideration for safety; everyone wears helmets, exercise is suggested after eating a lot of candy, and there are warnings about burning pine wood in an open fire. I can see reading this book easily becoming a family tradition. It might even spark some discussion about Yule Logs and varieties there of; this inclusion definitely belies this book's European roots, but I would definitely be on board with creating a Yule Log-- probably a peanut butter and chocolate one because I live in Ohio, where that combination is "buckeye" flavored.
Weaknesses: Isn't Santa magical enough to keep up with the increased demand for his services? If he did need an assistant, couldn't he have just promoted a head elf? Holly might not have been that helpful, but wouldn't all her other family members understand that the family business keeps them busy on Christmas Eve? I had a lot of questions, but I don't think younger readers will.
What I really think: One of my favorite parts was the consideration for safety; everyone wears helmets, exercise is suggested after eating a lot of candy, and there are warnings about burning pine wood in an open fire. I can see reading this book easily becoming a family tradition. It might even spark some discussion about Yule Logs and varieties there of; this inclusion definitely belies this book's European roots, but I would definitely be on board with creating a Yule Log-- probably a peanut butter and chocolate one because I live in Ohio, where that combination is "buckeye" flavored.
Oh, look. Someone beat me to it.
https://www.sugarhero.com/peanut-butter-cup-yule-log/
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