Santa's prayer A story

Tom Roberts, 1957-

Book - 2019

A boy and girl happen to see Santa Claus praying before a baby Jesus at a Christmas nativity.

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Subjects
Genres
Christmas fiction
Christian fiction
Religious fiction
Picture books
Stories in rhyme
Published
New York, NY : Sterling Children's Books 2019.
Language
English
Main Author
Tom Roberts, 1957- (author)
Other Authors
Doug Moss (illustrator)
Physical Description
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 23 x 29 cm
ISBN
9781454936732
Contents unavailable.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

On Christmas Eve, two Midwestern siblings set out on a snowy walk, discussing holiday matters and "dear old Santa," when they spot him walking into the town's church. They quietly follow and watch, wide-eyed, as he kneels in prayer at the Nativity scene. Santa begins in gratitude before voicing a "concern for the children" and praying that, rather than contributing to "fleeting fancies/ Rarely lasting beyond the day," he might remind children of "your life and your love/ And the example you have shown." After Santa exits, the children, too, approach the altar with thanks. Told in consistent rhyme, Roberts's didactic message comes off strong, making it difficult to connect with the characters and the tale, while Moss's sparse line-and-wash illustrations leave stark white space on each spread. A bland, albeit straightforward telling of one Christian ethos around Christmas. Ages 3--7. (Oct.)

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

Santa puts the Christ back in Christmas."It was on Christmas Eve / In a small Midwestern town" when two kids walking through the snow and imagining all the gifts they'll receive see "the ol' man himself / Mr. Kris Kringle / That great jolly old elf" slipping into a church. Sneaking in after him, they watch as he walks straight up to the manger scene at the altar and begins to pray. He asks Jesus for "the knowledge that I need / To help all of these children / To not give in to greed / To recognize that Christmas / Is not all about me." Indeed, Santa goes on to actually voice the bromide that Jesus is "the true reason / for the season" and that he, "ol' Santa," is simply Jesus' "servant." The children exchange a meaningful look as Santa concludes, leaving the church "with a glow on his face." They then approach the manger to pray: "Dear Jesusthank you!" Moss illustrates Roberts' poem with inky, crosshatched lines and spare applications of color. Santa's red suit provides a vivid focus for the otherwise muted pages. He and the two children are white. While Roberts' poetry leaves rather a lot to be desired, his articulation of a tension felt in many a household makes this book stand out, effectively bridging the gap between wholly secular and wholly religious offerings.Inartful but sincere. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.