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I Can Read: Level 3
It's Christmas
Twelve humorous, easy-to-read poems that celebrate the spirit of Christmas. "The poems cover subjects of interest to children--making a Christmas list, performing in the school assembly, cutting a Christmas tree. Children enjoy Prelutsky's poetry, and`this book should prove no exception."--School Library Journal.
48 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1981
About the author
Jack Prelutsky
121 books240 followersJack Prelutsky is an American poet. He attended New York public schools, and later the High School of Music and Art and Hunter College. Prelutsky, who has also worked as a busboy, furniture mover, folk singer, and cab driver, claims that he hated poetry in grade school because of the way it was taught. He is the author of more than 30 poetry collections including Nightmares: Poems to Trouble Your Sleep< and A Pizza the Size of the Sun. He has also compiled countless children's anthologies comprised of poems of others'. Jack Prelutsky was married to Von Tre Venefue, a woman he had met in France. They divorced in 1995, but Jack remarried. He currently lives in Washington state with his wife, Carolyn. He befriended a gay poet named Espiritu Salamanca in 1997 and both now work together in writing poems and stories for children and adults alike.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
December 24, 2024
Marylin Hafner is the perfect illustrator for Jack Prelutsky's short books of holiday poetry, and the pair have worked their magic again in this sprightly celebration of Christmas and the excitement surrounding every aspect of that special day. There's a mischievous sparkle to Jack Prelutsky's ear-pleasing verse, and Marylin Hafner's affectionate, low-key imagery winsomely depicts American holiday traditions and the way they bring families together.
"It's Christmas! Merry Christmas!
Yes, it's merry, merry Christmas,
it's a time for hanging stockings,
it's a time for riding sleighs,
it's a time for jolly greeting,
snow and holly, overeating,
oh, I love you merry Christmas,
you're the best of holidays."
—It's Christmas, P. 7
The first poem, "It's Christmas", starts the anthology by praising the delicious sense of anticipation Christmas offers old and young. A boy has a long list of desired gifts for Santa to bring him in "Dear Santa Claus", some easy enough (like comic books and chocolate brownies) and others an extreme challenge (a dragon and a hippopotamus). The end illustration suggests Santa may have delivered on even the boy's most outlandish requests. "Our Christmas Tree" tells of a boy and his daddy on a mission to find and chop down the perfect family Christmas tree. The expedition isn't completed without casualties, and everyone who sees how Daddy ends up suggests he should stick to purchasing a tree next year. "The Mistletoe" is about Christmas kisses, and "Another Santa Claus" takes us out and about near Christmastime when costumed Santas are everywhere, leaving smart kids to wonder how there can be so many when there's only one Santa Claus. A girl designs and mails Christmas cards to relatives and friends in "My Christmas Cards", but no one receives the envelopes full of holiday cheer. Did she accidentally skip a crucial step in the postage process?
Next, Prelutsky and Hafner treat us to "Our Christmas Play", a clever poem about a kids' holiday pageant and the enthusiastic response from families in attendance. The ending is funny and unexpected. We follow a family of untalented but perseverant vocalists in "Singing Christmas Carols" as they go door-to-door wassailing. Their voices aren't exactly pleasant, but they grow closer as a family. As the poem puts it, "Though our singing sounds so sour it sends shivers up my spine, when we're caroling together there's no family sweet as mine." "Tomorrow Is Christmas" is a window into the forlorn yuletide of a kid prevented from enjoying the holiday because he's unwell. He looked forward to Christmas, only to have it spoiled by circumstances beyond his control. How awful when that occurs. "A Sled for Christmas" feels like the flip side of the previous poem. A girl excited to try out her new sled is crushed to find that the beautiful blanket of snow from last night melted in the unseasonable December sun. A boy named Larry (information supplied by the illustrations) laments his aunt's poor choice of present for him each year in "Auntie Flo", and in the finale poem, "My Christmas Pup", we read about a kid who received a frisky puppy, frolicsome and unreserved and ready to be embraced by his new owner. Nothing can extinguish the enthusiasm of a kid given the Christmas present he wanted most.
Every poem in this collection has its charm, but the best may be "Singing Christmas Carols", a fond affirmation that perfection isn't necessary to enjoy the holiday with family. If you're with the people you hold dear, that's the only version of perfect that matters. I also found "Tomorrow Is Christmas" and "A Sled for Christmas" to be a thoughtful pair, a reminder that we're not always ready for our big day when it arrives. Much as it hurts, sometimes we have to step back and let that day pass us by this go-round, resolving to be prepared for the good things coming our way next time. I love Jack Prelutsky's collaborations with Marylin Hafner, and I hope It's Christmas is a holiday tradition in families for untold generations. You'll be hard-pressed to find a nicer way to while away a sliver of your yuletide than with this book.
"It's Christmas! Merry Christmas!
Yes, it's merry, merry Christmas,
it's a time for hanging stockings,
it's a time for riding sleighs,
it's a time for jolly greeting,
snow and holly, overeating,
oh, I love you merry Christmas,
you're the best of holidays."
—It's Christmas, P. 7
The first poem, "It's Christmas", starts the anthology by praising the delicious sense of anticipation Christmas offers old and young. A boy has a long list of desired gifts for Santa to bring him in "Dear Santa Claus", some easy enough (like comic books and chocolate brownies) and others an extreme challenge (a dragon and a hippopotamus). The end illustration suggests Santa may have delivered on even the boy's most outlandish requests. "Our Christmas Tree" tells of a boy and his daddy on a mission to find and chop down the perfect family Christmas tree. The expedition isn't completed without casualties, and everyone who sees how Daddy ends up suggests he should stick to purchasing a tree next year. "The Mistletoe" is about Christmas kisses, and "Another Santa Claus" takes us out and about near Christmastime when costumed Santas are everywhere, leaving smart kids to wonder how there can be so many when there's only one Santa Claus. A girl designs and mails Christmas cards to relatives and friends in "My Christmas Cards", but no one receives the envelopes full of holiday cheer. Did she accidentally skip a crucial step in the postage process?
Next, Prelutsky and Hafner treat us to "Our Christmas Play", a clever poem about a kids' holiday pageant and the enthusiastic response from families in attendance. The ending is funny and unexpected. We follow a family of untalented but perseverant vocalists in "Singing Christmas Carols" as they go door-to-door wassailing. Their voices aren't exactly pleasant, but they grow closer as a family. As the poem puts it, "Though our singing sounds so sour it sends shivers up my spine, when we're caroling together there's no family sweet as mine." "Tomorrow Is Christmas" is a window into the forlorn yuletide of a kid prevented from enjoying the holiday because he's unwell. He looked forward to Christmas, only to have it spoiled by circumstances beyond his control. How awful when that occurs. "A Sled for Christmas" feels like the flip side of the previous poem. A girl excited to try out her new sled is crushed to find that the beautiful blanket of snow from last night melted in the unseasonable December sun. A boy named Larry (information supplied by the illustrations) laments his aunt's poor choice of present for him each year in "Auntie Flo", and in the finale poem, "My Christmas Pup", we read about a kid who received a frisky puppy, frolicsome and unreserved and ready to be embraced by his new owner. Nothing can extinguish the enthusiasm of a kid given the Christmas present he wanted most.
Every poem in this collection has its charm, but the best may be "Singing Christmas Carols", a fond affirmation that perfection isn't necessary to enjoy the holiday with family. If you're with the people you hold dear, that's the only version of perfect that matters. I also found "Tomorrow Is Christmas" and "A Sled for Christmas" to be a thoughtful pair, a reminder that we're not always ready for our big day when it arrives. Much as it hurts, sometimes we have to step back and let that day pass us by this go-round, resolving to be prepared for the good things coming our way next time. I love Jack Prelutsky's collaborations with Marylin Hafner, and I hope It's Christmas is a holiday tradition in families for untold generations. You'll be hard-pressed to find a nicer way to while away a sliver of your yuletide than with this book.
December 24, 2025
Funny and festive! 🤩 I found this slim paperback book at the grocery store in the $1 bin and I'm so glad that I brought it home with me. The poems had me giggling and the illustrations are charming. Such a enjoyable combination in a Christmas children's book! Any child would love it!
November 22, 2012
As we have started to gather more and more I Can Read, leveled readers I have been anxious to see what I would find in a Level 3 "Reading Alone" with "complex plots for confident readers". My first experience is absolutely a positive one! It's Christmas! is slightly longer than your average 32 page early reader at 47 pages and while it it not exactly a plotted story, this is a book of poetry that is just grand for the new reader. Every few pages has a cute and quaint poem filled with Christmas cheer that is sure to provide a poem for every reader. Using traditions for Christmas, both Santa and Jesus included in various ones as well as baking festivities, snow covered or no sleds involved, city or country and suburb there is a bit of it all.
12 poems fun and funny. Ages 4 to 8, Grades K to 3 from Greenwillow Books.
Thanks to HC.
Typed post-op...
scheduled: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2...
12 poems fun and funny. Ages 4 to 8, Grades K to 3 from Greenwillow Books.
Thanks to HC.
Typed post-op...
scheduled: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2...
December 11, 2023
Only a poem book from the 80’s would admit the fat kid played Santa and the tiny kids played elves. Funny.
December 23, 2019
It's Christmas by Jack Prelutsky is the perfect way to introduce poetry into children's lives. It's Christmas contains 12 fun and funny poems about Christmas and Christmas-related things that children will love (and adults won't easily become bored with)!
Children will love the silliness of:
Dear Santa Claus,
It's me again
reminding you I'm here, I'm making my list easier
and shorter than last year.
I'd like a stack of comic books,
a dozen apple pies,
a box of chocolate brownies,
and an elephant that flies,
a porpoise for the bathtub
and a dragon for my room,
a robot that does homework
and can also use a broom... and on it goes!
-OR-
Another Santa Claus
Christmas day will soon be here,
'it must be so, because
no matter where I look, I see
another Santa Claus
For more book reviews (children and adult) follow me on Instagram at #emptynestreader and on Goodreads #itschristmas #jackprelutsky #scholasticbooks #childrensbook #picturebook #christmasbook #bookstagramalabama #bookstagrammichigan #bookstagram #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #childrensbooksofinstagram #books📚 #readingbringsjoy #readwithyourkids #readingmoms #booklove #bookcommunity #whatimreading
Children will love the silliness of:
Dear Santa Claus,
It's me again
reminding you I'm here, I'm making my list easier
and shorter than last year.
I'd like a stack of comic books,
a dozen apple pies,
a box of chocolate brownies,
and an elephant that flies,
a porpoise for the bathtub
and a dragon for my room,
a robot that does homework
and can also use a broom... and on it goes!
-OR-
Another Santa Claus
Christmas day will soon be here,
'it must be so, because
no matter where I look, I see
another Santa Claus
For more book reviews (children and adult) follow me on Instagram at #emptynestreader and on Goodreads #itschristmas #jackprelutsky #scholasticbooks #childrensbook #picturebook #christmasbook #bookstagramalabama #bookstagrammichigan #bookstagram #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #childrensbooksofinstagram #books📚 #readingbringsjoy #readwithyourkids #readingmoms #booklove #bookcommunity #whatimreading
November 5, 2018
I received this book from my 1st Grade teacher as part of a class gift (MANY years ago now) but honestly this is one of my favorite books ever. I spent hours and hours reading it as a child. And now that I have my own son, I'm having the best time revisiting these fun, short little poems with him. Definitely recommend!
January 29, 2019
Classic Jack Pretlusky. Clever, funny poems around preparations for Christmas. It depicts a very traditional looking Christmas in the north with plenty of snow. I have not read it to my south Florida based students, but I may offer it to them next Christmas season. Second graders can probably read it independently.
August 12, 2017
Typical Prelutsky - take it or leave it. Not crazy about the new illustrations. Judging by the cover, I'd probably prefer the originals.
December 24, 2017
Fun and catchy poems for the winter season! I like the one about sending Christmas cards.
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June 30, 2019H 111
September 9, 2019
Delightful set of poems about Christmas for early readers.
December 7, 2021
A short and fun collection of Christmas poems by Prelutsky.
December 23, 2023
Funny Christmas poems. My kids love Jack Prelutsky.
December 15, 2024
A favorite from my childhood!
January 5, 2022
A cute fun Christmas book!
December 9, 2015
This is a terrific I Can Read Christmas themed book. It's full of short poems with humor throughout that kids should really like and enjoy reading. The poems range in everything from "Our Christmas Tree" to "Singing Christmas Carols".
The book is quite short, which is always nice for a level three I Can Read so it will keep the childs attention and the parent should enjoy listening to the stories being read (or reading them as well). Very fun book!
The book is quite short, which is always nice for a level three I Can Read so it will keep the childs attention and the parent should enjoy listening to the stories being read (or reading them as well). Very fun book!
December 17, 2009
This book is filled with fun, short poems about Christmas. Although my youngest daughter was a little disappointed that there was no story, I think our girls enjoyed listening to the poems. The book is short enough to read at one time, or perfect for reading a few each night as Christmas approaches.
June 26, 2015
I picked up this book expecting a story.... Not only is there no story (which might be okay), but the "spirit of Christmas" has morphed into the spirit of serious accidents while chopping down trees, being miserable and having the mumps, mailing your Christmas cards without remembering to put on stamps, and terrorizing your neighbors with horrible caroling. Like wow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2016
A small book of quirky, tame, timely children's poems, perfectly composed. I like the variety of topics and personalities the poems come from, and the illustrations are very well done, and really call to my inner child. The whole book is fun to read and to look at, and the Christmas theme is well done.
October 14, 2011
Such a cute book. I definitely recommend it for kids who are excited about Christmas (or adults who appreciate silly poetry for children.) The illustrations are cute and some are downright hilarious!
April 11, 2012
Poem book written for ages nursey (N) to primary (P). Great illustrations and easy to read poems. Fun reading for young readers will guarantee a very special reading experience! I give them all five stars!
December 18, 2018
Was given this by my second grade teacher in elementary school. Loved it as a kid.
Felt like re-reading this for a quick holiday read. This is perfect to read to young children on Christmas eve.
Happy Reading, Ashley.
Felt like re-reading this for a quick holiday read. This is perfect to read to young children on Christmas eve.
Happy Reading, Ashley.
December 29, 2008
Sorry to see they put out a newer edition with different illustrations as part of the charm of this book (pictured here) are the really charming illustrations by Marilyn Hafner.
January 16, 2011
Funny funny poems. Usually I put which is my favorite but it was too hard to choose between Our Christmas Tree or Singing Christmas Carols.
November 21, 2015
my first grade teacher loved these poems =)
April 24, 2012
This is a nice book of Christmas poems. I didn't enjoy this as much as other books I've read by this author, but it was still good and had some really fun poems.
December 30, 2025
A lively collection of twelve kid-friendly Christmas poems. "Our Christmas Tree, "Auntie Flo," and "My Christmas Pup" are especially funny and would be great additions to any Christmas story time.
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June 26, 2019LOTS of fun ... even the 11-year-old liked it. To read our full review, go to the Reading Tub.
December 14, 2013
A fun, little book of Christmas poems.
September 24, 2014
Great poems to read aloud to children. Jack Prelutsky's poems are a great introduction to poetry for young ones.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews