How Santa Really Works

by Alan Snow

Have you ever wondered how Santa knows
exactly when you fall asleep?
Does he really have time to check if
every single child's been naughty or nice?
And do the naughty
kids actually end up with coal?

How Santa Really Works
has the real scoop on how Santa does what he does so well.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday, Fiction, Humor

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Alan Snow is a prolific English author and illustrator, celebrated for his intricate visual storytelling. After studying at Salisbury College of Art, he illustrated over 160 books and contributed to animation and video game design. He is most famous for the Ratbridge Chronicles, particularly the 2005 novel Here Be Monsters!. This richly illustrated work, set in a fantastical Victorian world, inspired the 2014 Academy Award-nominated stop-motion film The Boxtrolls.

Reviews

[Diane in Australia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the books in my daughter's Christmas collection.

5 Stars = For sentimental reasons.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 1 out of 5]

We didn't finish this. The book is far too busy, there is just far too much going on, the format of the book is annoying as hell, I can go on and on. When I first laid eyes on it I thought how great it might be. The premise is exciting of course. But it falls very flat.
It's hard to keep on track when reading it because of all the excess material stuck any which way. One the pages we read reach double page spread had one paragraph to it and that paragraph wasn't at all fun to read. It read more like a textbook than anything IMO. What kid wants to hear the words 'factories, warehouses, transport facilities, communications center, vital and necessary departments'? Eewww.
Someone else should try to try this out, I'm sure someone could pull it off wonderfully and make it fun for readers of all ages.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't care much for the the format. Very tiny pictures with tons of details made if fell like information overload, but clever idea for a book.

[Stef (Noveltea Corner) · Rating 5 out of 5]

How Santa Really Works is a fun, engaging book that details the truth behind everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Santa and Christmas.

I’ve read this book many times over the years and while it’s definitely not an easy bedtime read - there’s a LOT happening on each and every page - it is a book that young children can find something of interest in on every page. Whether they want to know where Santa lives, who the elves help Santa or how Santa’s sleigh can carry all those presents around the world in one night, there’s an answer to your question.

I love the illustrations in this book. While it might be a bit busy for younger readers, school-aged children will love the detail as it gives them a lot to look at. I’ve read this with many grades over the years and every time I turn the page, little bodies lean closer trying to pick out the details discussed in the book, before requesting to look at it independently so they can fully immerse themselves in the world of everything Christmas.

This book is perfect for all those people who want to know the truth about Santa!

I rated How Santa Really Works 5 out of 5 stars.

[Shannon Bradbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really fun, super cute, and has lots of interesting facts. It tells the fictional story of how Santa and the elves do their jobs. It breaks it down into sections of each elves job. And the timeline of the day for Santa. The author who wrote this book was super creative.

[Akiko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute pictures, funny and interesting story.

[Kaelani May · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uncover the secrets in this book. I think that this book is for small kids, possibly, 3 to 6?

[Meredith]

Fun illustrations but a lot of text.

[Eugenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book you will find all the answers to the all questions that you and your children have about Santa Claus 🙂

[Laura Róża · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ciekawa książka o Mikołaju i jego pracy, dla dzieci 3-9 lat. Mnie osobiście ilustracje nie zachwycają i z tego typu książek wolę „Opowiem ci, mamo, o świętym Mikołaju”.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun description of how Santa works. I liked that some of the elves were in wheelchairs. However there were very few non-Caucasian elves, and all the humans were Caucasian.

[Acton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is in a way very funny and that is one reason why I like it. On each page, the elves are talking and they say funny things. One part of the book is about how Santa gets through the chimneys since he is so fat. Since it is usually very cold on Christmas Eve, it is actually a suit that makes him really warm so he won't freeze. When he gets to each house, he takes it off. Underneath, he has an inflatable suit. If someone wakes up, he turns a switch to inflate it with helium, which carries up the chimney. This is a great book for people who love Christmas and who want to know a lot about how elves make the toys so fast and how Santa delivers everything in one night.

[Emiko Miyasato · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spend 25 minutes to read this book.
Also, I spend about 40 minutes more for extensive reading.

Summary
santa, wonder,elves, help, write, guess, present

Actually, I think it was not good summary because it was not a story. However, I could enjoy reading this book! The most interesting point was how santa enter int the house.

Questions
1 what do you want for christmas present?
I want a speaker to listen to the music in my house. I live alone, so I want some noise. Quiet room makes me un confortable.

2 What is your plan for this christmas?
I am going to Karaoke with almost all member of DELT. I am really looking forward to enjoying with them!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a GREAT book, but I must admit I am an engineer! Yes, it is extremely complicated and definitely is not the book for a quick bedtime story. But if you have a little engineer on your hands, he or she will definitely want to study this book. This is a textbook on Santa's business and how it works. It will teach your child to think out how things are made and how they get done. The illustrations are cute, colorful and full of dozens of intriguing details. An added bonus is all the funny comments made by the elves throughout the story! I especially loved the part about Santa's suit and how he fits down chimneys!

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fun concept--giving children the inside scoop on Santa, his workshop, toy delivery, etc--with some clever explanations. I agree with some of the other reviewers that the text (and some of the illustrations) veers too often toward information overload--especially for younger children. Some of the vocabulary wasn't age-appropriate either (e.g., most young children don't understand the meanings of "manufacturing" or "engineering"). This was one of those children's books that felt like it was written to amuse adults, rather than to delight children.

[Michal Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really challenges the theories that Santa doesn't exist....or affirms our belief that he does, you choose. I love the explanations of how the North Pole works, and that Santa is actually slim with a heated body suit, or even how presents get delivered via transporters. For my 4yo, this book provides plenty of critical thinking "food" for thought. He ponders over whether we have elves here in our house and whether Santa is really "watching" to see if he should be on the nice or naughty list. Hilarious!

[Dimitra · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book not only to talk about Santa and how he manages to deliver the presents, but also to talk about the different professions that appear in the book and how something is created (here the presents). One could even use it by following the "directions" and steps of the book to create something with their child or class.

[Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. My children requested reading it almost every night in December. This is a cute and funny way of finding explanations for your gowning children's questions about Santa and helps keep the magic going.

[☆Brittany☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ethan (age 5) brought this home from the school library. I found it quite amusing but it was a bit over Ethan's head. I'd definitely say this is for older kids because they'd understand it better.

I found it amusing though. :)

[s · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! It's soooo cute. Reminds me how much I loved Christmas and Santa Claus. I still like to read the stories of Santa Claus. Wish I read this in childhood. Kids who love Santa should read this and love more!!

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

All your questions about Santa are answered here. Best part: Diagrams about Santa and elves and presents, including little balloons of conversation. Ages 8-12.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love santa .and I will allways beilive in him.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the boys' favorite xmas book.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toy Sciences and the CCE (Christmas College for Elves!) and the CIA (Christmas Intellingence Agancy!) Epic book!

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like all the elves. by Katie

Excellent guide to answer all your child's questions about the guy in the big red suit. This one lasted way more than one night.

[Diana Brewster · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute premise on Santa's secret operations, very busy artwork though.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

With lots of diagrams and colorful illustrations, this humorous take on Santa's habitat, helpers, and work schedule is a feast for the eyes as well as the ears.

[Sara Lemonade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be sure to give yourself at least an hour total to plow through this word and image-filled book.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pop ups are great. Nice and colourful. The rest is like a report on how Santa works rather than a story. Still great to read before Christmas.