Santa's First Christmas

Starred review from July 29, 2024
This warmhearted holiday interlude opens as a polar bear passing the North Pole finds that Santa spends Christmas Day just like any other: making toys. (He does sleep “an extra half hour,” three elves reveal.) The bear’s stern reply—“It’s Christmas”—spurs the group to offer Santa a real celebration, one with a tree to decorate, stockings to hang, and presents to unwrap. Luminous gouache and watercolor spreads by Smith add delectable touches: Santa’s kindly pink face and bushy white eyebrows in early morning sun; the eager pleasure of the elves taking Santa through the day; bright lights, filled stockings, and a groaning banquet table. Barnett tenderly unfurls the day’s events, leaning beat by beat into the meta-possibilities posed by a Christmas created for Santa, as when the elves tell him he can have only one cookie (“We have to save them.... For you know who”). Offering moments of abundance, laughter, and surprise, the creative duo’s assembly of classic yuletide elements gives readers a chance to encounter an old holiday anew—freshly through the eyes of its most iconic figure. The elves are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 3–7.

Starred review from August 15, 2024
Even the man with the bag needs a little help getting into the Yuletide spirit. Barnett returns with yet another Christmas title, followingHow Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? (2023), illustrated by Jon Klassen. Prepare for some potential confusion, since the titular "first Christmas" isn't about the first time Santa started delivering gifts, but rather the first ChristmasDay he's celebrated himself. Usually after working hard on Christmas Eve, Santa sleeps in an extra half hour and then gets right back to work. The elves and a concerned polar bear decide to take matters into their own hands, so this year they surprise Santa with breakfast in bed on Christmas morning, then plunge into other activities: trimming a Christmas tree, stringing the North Pole up with lights, baking cookies, reading stories aloud, giving Santa presents, and enjoying a feast so decadent that it would make a reformed Grinch blush. Barnett narrates with a pitch-perfect mixture of droll amusement and holiday charm: Santa initially appears to be humoring his elves, only to really get into the spirit himself. Smith's signature illustrations rely on bright colors and shapes. This seeming simplicity is belied by each scene's unique lighting and reflections, imbuing everything with a singular warmth. Santa is pink-skinned and rosy-cheeked; the elves vary in skin tone. Cozier than a roaring fire and sweeter than milk and cookies, this earns its "Christmas classic" stripes with flying colors.(Picture book. 4-6)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from September 1, 2024

PreS-Gr 3-Barnett's latest story is an early Christmas present to the readers. With guidance from a polar bear, the elves at the North Pole realize that Santa never celebrates Christmas: He spends the holiday giving and then sleeping. The elves, of various skin tones, decide to do something special for Santa, starting with donuts and tree decorating, then moving on to hanging stockings and lights. The celebration culminates when someone with a white beard and red suit comes to the door carrying a sack full of gifts. Santa knows who it is, but he does not tell. Smith's rustic illustrations with deep, warm hues provide the perfect atmosphere for the story. As Santa and the elves are enjoying their holiday feast at the end of their day, readers will feel sated as well. VERDICT A feel-good holiday story that will warm hearts for Christmases to come. Holiday collections will welcome this gift.-Cassie Veselovsky

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2024
Preschool-Grade 2 In this cozy Christmas tale, the elves at the North Pole are embarrassed to realize that Santa himself never celebrates the holiday. The old man is slow to catch on, but as his little friends take him through a series of special Christmas activities--breakfasting in bed, decorating a tree, hanging stockings, stringing lights, baking cookies, telling stories, giving gifts, feasting, and singing--Santa is deeply moved. Barnett incorporates some trademark droll dialogue into this comfy concept, while Smith's soft, loose paintings bring a real magic to the proceedings. His Santa, rosy-cheeked with incredibly expressive black-dot eyes, is remarkably gentle. Throughout, the lighting delivers warmth and wonder in everything from Santa's glowing skin to the illuminating fairy lights strung across the North Pole village. For little ones new to Christmas, this is a lovely listing of many classic traditions, and for those little holidays vets, it offers a clever new take.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Christmas has come early with the magical pairing of best-seller Barnett and lauded Smith. Brace yourselves for the Black Friday-style crush.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2024
"Santa doesn't do anything special" for Christmas?! The elves are embarrassed not to have thought about it before: after a night of delivering toys, Santa just sleeps in an extra half hour and then gets back to work. This Christmas morning, the elves surprise their boss with breakfast in bed. Then they all chop down a "handsome spruce," hang lights around the North Pole, and bake cookies for "you know who." There are stockings, presents (delivered by a polar bear in a Santa suit), carols, and a Christmas feast. Barnett's wry text is full of affection for his characters, and Smith's rich watercolor and gouache illustrations infuse both the outdoor North Pole and interior scenes with good cheer. Kitty Flynn

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2024
"Santa doesn't do anything special" for Christmas?! The elves are embarrassed not to have thought about it before: after a night of delivering toys, Santa just sleeps in an extra half hour and then gets back to work. This Christmas morning, the elves surprise their boss with breakfast in bed. Then they all chop down a "handsome spruce," hang lights around the North Pole, and bake cookies for "you know who." There are stockings, presents (delivered by a polar bear in a Santa suit), carols, and a Christmas feast. Barnett's wry text is full of affection for his characters, and Smith's rich watercolor and gouache illustrations infuse both the outdoor North Pole and interior scenes with good cheer.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)