Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
173rd out of 465 books
—
645 voters
Kringle
by
Tony Abbott,
Greg Call
Just in time for Christmas comes a fantasy epic from one of today's most popular writers for children. It is the story of a young orphan realizing his destiny -- to become the legendary Kris Kringle.
Unlike the traditional Santa Claus myth, KRINGLE is a coming-of-age story about an orphan who becomes a force for good in a dark and violent time. It is a tale of fantasy, of g...more
Unlike the traditional Santa Claus myth, KRINGLE is a coming-of-age story about an orphan who becomes a force for good in a dark and violent time. It is a tale of fantasy, of g...more
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
October 1st 2005
by Scholastic Press
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
673)
I bought this book intended to give to my daughter, Maranda (9) to read. She loves to read. The synopsis of it caught my eye. It's a book about the beging of Santa Claus. It includes Elves (good), magic (good), goblins (what?), and pirates (PIRATES?!). That caught my eye, so I ordered it.
It's over 300 pages and I decided to read it out of nothing but curiosity due to the characters listed.
I'm having trouble with my short term memory, so reading is difficult. This book, though, was so well writ...more
It's over 300 pages and I decided to read it out of nothing but curiosity due to the characters listed.
I'm having trouble with my short term memory, so reading is difficult. This book, though, was so well writ...more
Extremely exciting! This book brings a new adventure in a magical land!
The Holiday Adventure
Have you ever thought about reading a book that clashes adventure and mysteries together? The book that I have been reading was exactly plotted that way. It is called "Kringle" and it's written by Tony Abbott. It is a hard-covered book. It's all fictional, but I personally think that some parts can be relevant to reality. It's mainly about an orphaned boy named Kringle who tries to fulfill his goal to save children from evil spirits and ghosts that would force kids to do w...more
Have you ever thought about reading a book that clashes adventure and mysteries together? The book that I have been reading was exactly plotted that way. It is called "Kringle" and it's written by Tony Abbott. It is a hard-covered book. It's all fictional, but I personally think that some parts can be relevant to reality. It's mainly about an orphaned boy named Kringle who tries to fulfill his goal to save children from evil spirits and ghosts that would force kids to do w...more
At first, I worried that the beautiful book cover would turn out to be just so much eye candy, with nothing to back it up; I was wrong!
This story ties together much of the folklore of Christmas, and, most important to me, not only does not omit the Nativity, but accentuates its importance, without coming across as overly-pious or preachy. The eternal struggle between good and evil is well defined here. The crass commercialism of "Santa Claus" seems even more offensive after reading KRINGLE, and...more
This story ties together much of the folklore of Christmas, and, most important to me, not only does not omit the Nativity, but accentuates its importance, without coming across as overly-pious or preachy. The eternal struggle between good and evil is well defined here. The crass commercialism of "Santa Claus" seems even more offensive after reading KRINGLE, and...more
This book was amazing. It is a Christmas story like no other. The author weaves a tale that takes us back to the beginnings of Christmas. He intertwines the stories of Kringle and Christ giving Kringle a fantastic spiritual part in Christmas, rather than the worldly commercial part we see so often. It was mesmerizing to read. Unexpected storyline, delightful doses of the Christ child's birth. Inspirational and symbolic. My favorite part was at the end when Alban, the priest, writes:
"Kringle, you...more
"Kringle, you...more
Deep in the land of cold and frost, long ago, when elves and goblins still roamed the earth, there was a boy. He lived a quiet, solitary existence, that is, until his twelfth winter, when goblins attacked his home and cast him out into the wilderness. Now he finds himself adrift in a strange and frightening world. But through encounters with elves, pirates, and the dark threat of goblins massing for an epic battle, he begins to realize that he has a destiny to fill, and that even a lone boy can...more
Jan 04, 2011
Valerie
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
nobody
Recommended to Valerie by:
book club selection
The dialogue was torture!
"Really? A home? And I could draw it? Hmm. Well, then, hmm. Really, you know...I rather think so!" (p. 292)
Honestly, I'd just as soon erase from my mind the tangle of Vikings, goblins, elves, and Jesus that Abbott weaves together in this story about the "Winter Gift Giver". Department store Santas are more satisfying.
"Really? A home? And I could draw it? Hmm. Well, then, hmm. Really, you know...I rather think so!" (p. 292)
Honestly, I'd just as soon erase from my mind the tangle of Vikings, goblins, elves, and Jesus that Abbott weaves together in this story about the "Winter Gift Giver". Department store Santas are more satisfying.
A very original twist to the origins of Santa Claus. This book is full of pirates, goblins, elves and flying reindeer. It is set in Britain in the year 410 at the time of the Roman withdrawal. The future survival of the world of men sits on the shoulders of a twelve year old boy. The goblins are stealing the children of the world to use their fear to power their conquest. Kringle, who was orphaned as a newborn and ran from the person who raised him to escape a goblin attack, sets out on a journe...more
I enjoyed reading some of Tony Abbott's other books, so I decided to read KRINGLE to see how it compared. I was curious to read Abbott's take on Santa Claus.
Kringle has been raised by the old woman, Merwyn, ever since his mother died shortly after giving birth to him. (His father had been killed by the goblins several days before his birth.) Now a young teen, Kringle escapes when the goblins attack the hut he shares with Merwyn. Merwyn isn't so lucky and is captured by the goblins. Kringle then...more
Kringle has been raised by the old woman, Merwyn, ever since his mother died shortly after giving birth to him. (His father had been killed by the goblins several days before his birth.) Now a young teen, Kringle escapes when the goblins attack the hut he shares with Merwyn. Merwyn isn't so lucky and is captured by the goblins. Kringle then...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I had never heard of this book until I saw it on the shelf at my local Christmas Tree Shop store. After reading the back I thought "why not pick it up". As I did so I fully expected it to be similar in some regards to L. Frank Baum's The Life and Times of Santa Claus. These two books are in no way similar.
Kringle is the story of a young orphan being raised by an older woman named Merwyn. Together they eke out a meager existence living day to day. At night the boy asks Merwyn to tell him again th...more
Kringle is the story of a young orphan being raised by an older woman named Merwyn. Together they eke out a meager existence living day to day. At night the boy asks Merwyn to tell him again th...more
Have you ever wondered where Santa Claus, or Kris Kringle, came from? What events brought him to the North Pole, with the elves, and the reindeer?
I enjoyed this story of Kringle's life and times. An orphaned baby, who with the help of the mysterious midwife, escapes the goblins. When they find him later, as a boy, he must escape again, this time leaving behind the only person he's ever really known. As Kringle finds his way in the world, he also discovers some of his talents--talents for beatin...more
I enjoyed this story of Kringle's life and times. An orphaned baby, who with the help of the mysterious midwife, escapes the goblins. When they find him later, as a boy, he must escape again, this time leaving behind the only person he's ever really known. As Kringle finds his way in the world, he also discovers some of his talents--talents for beatin...more
Another take on the tale of how Kris Kringle came to be-Complete with goblins, elves, pirates & a monk. My 8 year old loves it!
Kringle was not my favorite book, but it was pretty good. If you just look the front cover you will think it is a Christmas book. If you just read 100 pages you will think it is a fairytale.If you read the whole book everthing adds up and makes sense. Kringle is an orphan in the times of hardships. It takes many journeys for him to figure out his purpose and his destiny.Kringle must slay not only the Goblin King, but also the entire goblin population.If you want to know if this is a Christmas s...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I love fantasy, childrens fiction and christmas so when I saw this for only $1.69 at the christmas tree shop i thought I hit big. This may be one of the worst books i've ever read. It's the authors first attempt at something like this, and really he should keep trying. there are a lot of badly done LOTR elements and a lot of things that just dont make sense. he tried way too hard to make things magical and adventerouse and mystical and much of it is very rushed. I really wanted to like this and...more
Apr 04, 2008
Abigail
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Young Readers Who Like Christmas Fantasy...
Review Temporarily Removed.
1 like · like · see review
A story about the beginning of jolly Saint Nick, Kringle is a charming children's book about finding the heart inside of you to do great things.
God that blurb was so cheesy... but I can't find another way to describe it. Never read any other Tony Abbot, but maybe it's just I'm too old for this book. The characters were too perfect and the struggle of bad and good was too unoriginal and had no real fueling to the motives. The characters had no dirt on them!
It was a very well written though, and...more
God that blurb was so cheesy... but I can't find another way to describe it. Never read any other Tony Abbot, but maybe it's just I'm too old for this book. The characters were too perfect and the struggle of bad and good was too unoriginal and had no real fueling to the motives. The characters had no dirt on them!
It was a very well written though, and...more
Huh. So. This is the story of . . . a kid named Kringle . . . who lived in England in the time when the Romans were leaving. Also, this boy's parents have been killed by goblins. And his guardian, Merwen, and all the children in England with the exception of Kringle have been kidnapped by goblins. Also, Kringle meets a Christian priest having doubts. And some vikings. And there are elves who repair shoes in the night. And Kringle wants to rescue Merwen, and the children, and help the elves find...more
What Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson did for Peter Pan, Tony Abbott attempts to do for Santa Claus. Kringle is a 12-year-old boy who is being raised by Merwen, an older woman who sheltered his mother during a snowstorm shortly before he was born. Evil goblins are currently terrorizing the land, snatching any children they find. Kringle is separated from Merwen as she fights to protect him from goblins who have attacked their small hut. Kringle must then figure out how to defeat the goblins with th...more
I checked this one out thinking it would be great to read just before Christmas, to get in the magical mood of Christmas and was very disappointed.
The whole book seems to be about goblins, and the last two chapters set the stage for Christmas as we know it. It was also hard to get through. A book as short as this would typically take no more than two days to read, but I found it took almost a week, most likely because I wasn't excited to pick it up and find out what happened next.
The whole book seems to be about goblins, and the last two chapters set the stage for Christmas as we know it. It was also hard to get through. A book as short as this would typically take no more than two days to read, but I found it took almost a week, most likely because I wasn't excited to pick it up and find out what happened next.
I'm adding this to my list of books that I read every year at Christmas-Yule-Winter Solstice. It is a wonderful reworking and synthesis of a number of legends and historical facts, with some poetic license tossed in.
I'll be recommending this to my students who enjoy reading fantasy-adventure and to others who just enjoy a good clean story. Even though my daughters are grown, I anticipate having a read-aloud with this book next holiday season.
I'll be recommending this to my students who enjoy reading fantasy-adventure and to others who just enjoy a good clean story. Even though my daughters are grown, I anticipate having a read-aloud with this book next holiday season.
Great bigger picture perspective. It was different from what I expected and I liked that aspect of it. I had not read anything about it, just picked it up and the library one day.
The community of elves was a great perspective of unity and service for me. I think it is easy to live for the one sometimes instead of seeing people as a whole...we see ourselves as a piece among other pieces without really fitting into any bigger picture.
The community of elves was a great perspective of unity and service for me. I think it is easy to live for the one sometimes instead of seeing people as a whole...we see ourselves as a piece among other pieces without really fitting into any bigger picture.
I am reading this to my class of 3rd graders and they love every minute of it and beg me to read more whenever we have time. They remember every detail. I would definitely recommend this as a read-aloud because it is so action-packed and has lots of good cliff-hangers. The kids like to piece together what they know of Santa with the events of the story. Lots of good "a-ha" moments.
1 like · like · see review
Dec 21, 2008
Lisa
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Those who enjoy "something different"
Recommended to Lisa by:
Anna Farna
An unusual take of the origin of Santa Claus. I really liked how the story unfolded and the elements of Santa became incoporated into the fabric of the story. For example the transition of pagen beliefs to the introduction, knowledge and acceptance of Christianity and how that come into play as the day Kringle honors and gives to children.
It was well written with plenty of adventure, elements of fantasy and a bit of history thrown in for good measure.
It was well written with plenty of adventure, elements of fantasy and a bit of history thrown in for good measure.
This was a book I read when I was little. I think it may have been one of my first "big" books and for that I love it. I remember this book being filled with such adventure and awesomeness. I love how they twist the books plot so it's not something totally christmasy, even though the cover looks like it will be a kids christmas story. LOVED IT!
I am not much of a "goblin" story lover but this is my second time through this one. :) I have read it with my boy when he was 10 and now just made it through it with my 10 year old daughter. Fun adventurous read that was perfect for Christmas time. It is full of adventure and action, yet is clean and not too graphic and I love how the author threw in the true meaning of Christmas. I will probably dig it out in 3yrs when my next one hits 10. ;)
A great book for children between 8-12yrs old. A wild adventure of an early Kringle (santa) trying to over throw evil goblins. Pirates and elves, and even a monk help him to bring goodness back to his world. Mixes equinox/sant/baby jesus stories together so there is something for everyone. I read it every year to my sons.
Tony Abbott blends several mythologies together in an interesting and compelling retelling of the origins of Kringle, the Gift Giver. It includes religious elements as well as fantasy elements and really is a Christmas Story worth reading. It entertains but most importantly contains the spirit of the holiday. I would recommend this to anyone.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Tony Abbott (born 1952) is an American author of children's books. His most popular work is the book series The Secrets of Droon, which includes over 40 books. He has sold over 12 million copies of his books and they have been translated into several other languages, including Italian, Spanish, Korean, French, Japanese, Polish, Turkish, and Russian. He has also written the bestseller "Firegirl".
Ab...more
More about Tony Abbott...
Ab...more
Share This Book
1 trivia question
More quizzes & trivia...
Jan 08, 2013 07:29am