Love, Santa

by Martha Brockenbrough, Lee White (Illustrations)

The beautiful truth about Santa In a series of letters, a young girl writes to Santa to ask about the North Pole, Mrs. Claus, and of course, Christmas goodies. Year after year, Santa writes back, and a heartwarming relationship develops, until one year, the girl writes to her mother Mom, are you Santa? Her mother responds to say that no, she is not Santa. Because Santa is bigger than any one person -- we bring him out through kindness to one another and the power of imagination. This transformative tale spins a universal childhood experience into a story about love, giving, and the spirit of Christmas.

Genres: Picture Books, Christmas, Holiday, Childrens, Fiction, Parenting, Kids

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Martha Brockenbrough is author of The Game of Love and Death, Finding Bigfoot, The Dinosaur Tooth Fairy, and Devine Intervention, books for young readers. For adults, she has written Things That Make Us [Sic], a hilarious guide to things that can go wrong with English, and It Could Happen to You, a diary of her first pregnancy. She's the founder of National Grammar Day and SPOGG, the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

If your child still believes in Santa, then this is not the book for them. But if they're starting to doubt and you don't know how to answer their questioning of his existence, then Martha Brockenbrough not only has you covered, she has the best possible response you could ever give, one that speaks to a much-needed ethos in our materialistic culture.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won't put this in my elementary library, because I don't want to be responsible for spoiling the magic for a family not ready for it yet, but I will definitely have a copy for myself, and recommend it to any parents struggling with how to answer the question from their child. This book provides a beautiful and heart-warming sentiment that speaks to the heart of the belief in Santa, and a perspective that benefits humanity.

[Emilie | La prof de français · Rating 5 out of 5]

Il est parfait celui-là, j’ai pleuré en le lisant toute seule.

[Jack & Lily Wills · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I made the mistake of not reading what this book was about before reading it to my children, but luckily I just kind of made up something about each page and they can't read yet so no one knew any differently! I will keep this book in mind for when the kids are older if they have questions about Santa - it was a really, really sweet book and made me tear up, but not for the still-believing-in-Santa crowd!!

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

#TeamSanta all the way! I'm so glad that my own mother handled this coming-of-age situation with me in the exact way this book illustrates.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nooooooooo! Not the surprise I wanted to find while reading this to my two little, little ones. My teen was cracking up because I was not at all composed in trying to alter the revelations that were being made as I read this book aloud. This would be a great book in a few years....but not when the little ones are too young to even question the existence of Santa Claus! I'm so disappointed!!!!

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

It made me cry at work and that’s how you know it’s a good one.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 3 out of 5]

LOVE the example of print awareness (writing letters) in this book

[Janie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une merveilleuse histoire qui explique tout en douceur et avec magie la véritable identité du Père Noël aux enfants.

[Kendra · Rating 1 out of 5]

My son picked this out at the library. The cover did not include a green band stating it was the ‘truth about Santa’

[Annette Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be in every family's library and every public library, ready to pull out when a child no longer believes in Santa Claus. Letters to Santa trace the growth of a lovely little girl year after year. And these letters ARE ACTUAL LETTERS TUCKED INTO ENVELOPES, just like one of my all time favorites, The Jolly Postman. But the last letter is the best--don't want to spoil it for you. It goes to the heart of what Christmas is all about. I guarantee you will choke up in that warm expansive feeling of universal love whether you are Christian, atheist, Jewish, Muslim or of any other belief system. For all humanists, every year!

[Christine Bergeron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une douce et lumineuse lecture pour amener les enfants à continuer de croire à la magie de Noël, qui ne tient pas qu'au personnage du père Noël.

[Ashley Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband and I sat down last night to read this together. We had recently attended a conference where this book was mentioned and having two sons almost ages 9 and 10 we weren't sure how the text was going to go and if our boys were ready for it. After reading it I was in tears. Our boys still believe and we want them to for as long as possible but when the time comes this books is going to be the way we discuss everything. Martha does an amazing job here and truly touches on the true spirit of Christmas and Santa. I highly recommend you buy this book and read it to your children and if your children still believe, I highly recommend you buy this book and save it for that time. Additionally, the art truly helps tell this wonderful story in a meaningful and touching way. The interactive element of the letters make it fun to read and suspenseful. Just buy it already! :)

[LBinKC · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is charming and I love how the author has explained Santa to her daughter. That said, I gave it a lower rating because as several reviewers have pointed out, this is a book for older children who are beginning to doubt there is a Santa or for parents on how to explain Santa to a child who is questioning whether there is a Santa. The format is a picture book for a young child, however, the message is for an older child.

[Kimberly Sabatini · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book I wanted when I stood in my Grandmother's kitchen and asked my mom if Santa was real. Everything changes in a moment--a split second of understanding. If you have children who believe in Santa, get this book now and tuck it away for that perfect moment when your child is ready to really explore the magic of Christmas. You won't regret it.

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most important holiday books to have on hand.

[Sevi Sather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for two-year-olds.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every year, since the age of five, Lucy has written Santa a letter, and every year, Santa brought Lucy a present and left a letter of his own. This ritual repeats itself for the next year, when Lucy is six. But when she is seven, her letters begin to question Santa about how he gets down chimneys, how he delivers gifts if people don’t have chimney, and why does his handwriting look so much like her mom’s, but she decided not to send it and wrote a different letter. But the letter she writes on her eight Christmas is different. Instead of being addressed to Santa, it is addressed to her Mom, and asks straight out “Are you Santa?” The next morning, an envelope that looks just like the envelopes she had previously received from Santa, was left for Lucy in the usual spot. Inside is a letter from her mom, explaining who brings her presents to her, but also telling her that the spirit of Santa is real and lives on in all of us. The letter is long and heartfelt, a copy of the letter author Martha Brockenbrough wrote to her daughter Lucy in 2009 when she was confronted with the same question. The letter may carry the truth, but it also carries the magic of Christmas that sometimes gets lost once we are in the know. White’s watercolor and mixed media illustrations capture Lucy as she matures each year, and as her emotions change and mature. On some of the right facing pages an envelope in glued on and contains the letters that Lucy writes, so readers can pull them out and read what is written, and the also reflect Lucy as she grows from year to year. This is a book I would have liked to have when that day came and my Kiddo began to question things. This is a real coming of age story, that may conjure up sentimental and nostalgic feelings for older readers.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

There isn't a child alive who hasn't firmly believed in the magic of Santa Claus and then started questioning his existence after friends express doubts in his existence. Part of growing up involves starting to notice things about him that don't make sense or seem to point to a parent's actually being Santa. With illustrations created from watercolor and mixed media, this handsomely designed book contains letters from one girl, Lucy, and Santa, as she asks for certain gifts or wonders about life at the North Pole. The book even contains the letters, tucked in colorful envelopes. The last letter contains Lucy's mother's response to her daughter about Santa. Her explanation of what Santa is and how she is on Santa's team, spreading love, light, and joy is comforting, inspiring Lucy and legions of others to give back in their own way. This is an excellent way to share the truth about the jolly old elf when the time is right.

[Shaynning - Libraire Jeunesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Album jeunesse de Noël, "Affectueusement Père Noël" s'adresse aux enfants qui sont en âge de douter de l'existence du Père Noël, donc aux plus vieux. Dans cette histoire, une jeune fille envoie des lettres aux Père Noël au fil des ans et il lui répond. Puis, à un certain âge, elle a un doute...est-ce que ce sympathique livreur de cadeaux serait en fait sa mère? Il lui arrive alors une lettre plus longue que les autres dans laquelle sa mère lui explique ce que représente le Père Noël et comment elle en est la messagère.

Une histoire qui porte le message de Noël à un autre niveau et insiste sur l'importance de croire dans l'apprentissage des enfants. Un livre épistolaire bien écrit dans lequel est possible de retirer les lettres de leurs enveloppes et de les manipuler.

Catégorisation: Album fiction (Noël) états-uniens, littérature jeunesse intermédiaire, second cycle primaire, 8-9 ans (* Ou premier cycle primaire si votre enfant ne croit déjà plus au père Noël)
Note: 8/10

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE, SANTA was so beautifully written and is the perfect way to tell your little one the truth about Santa. In the book, there are envelopes with letters that have been written by Lucy to Santa and by Santa to Lucy. I loved that interactive side of it because you didn't know what you were pulling out.

The feelings Lucy goes through is how we all feel when we get to the point of trying to decipher if Santa is real or not. The way the mom explains the truth to Lucy was so touching and inspirational that I couldn't have said it better. It truly is enchanting and I will be holding onto this book for when it's time to tell my daughter.


Final Verdict: I would recommend this book to parents who aren't sure how to tell their children the truth about Santa. It's also perfect for those that do because I admit I couldn't say it better than Martha Brockenbrough did.

[Sara Easterly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost every mom friend I know has at some point posted Brockenbrough’s letter to her daughter Lucy — The Truth About Santa — on one of their virtual walls. It makes the rounds of the Internet every holiday season. The author is a friend of mine, and I always get a little fan-friend proud when her letter gets shared in unexpected circles. Martha’s letter to her child elevates the simple answer to whether Santa is real or not to that of faith: in family, friends, and yourself. “Here, I’m talking about love, which will light your life from the inside out, even when things feel cold and dark.” This is one of those golden nuggets of parenting wisdom that can be shared with children when they are ready to know “the beautiful truth about Santa.”

Reviewed as a roundup of my favorite holiday books at https://bookbonding.wordpress.com/201...

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARNING: do NOT read this book to young children who still believe in the magic of Christmas and Santa.

This is for older kids who have started asking a lot of questions about Santa and who want to know the truth. It can be tough to figure out the best way to answer these questions.

Martha Brockenbrough does a great job answering these questions in the form of back and forth letters. The last letter explains the tradition of Santa (and Christmas) beautifully - but it is definitely a spoiler.

I would suggest reading the book to yourself first (and perhaps letting your spouse read it too) before reading it to your child. Again, this is NOT for young kids who still believe.

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get the tissues ready for this one! A beautiful story that is told through letters between Santa and a little girl named Lucy. The letters are physically added to the book in little envelopes for the reader to take out and read. As Lucy gets older her final letter is addressed to her mom asking if she is Santa. The mother's response is beautiful: Santa is bigger than any one person, he is a teacher that helps us to believe, he is love, magic, hope, and happiness. I loved how the mom ended the letter with: I am on his team, and now you are, too.

This book would be better for a one-on-one reading due to the reader having to remove each letter in order to read them.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful picture book that should only be read to children when they’re ready to have the Santa discussion. At some point children will ask their parents whether or not Santa is real, and this carefully written book is a terrific way to respond. It reminds me a lot of what my parents said to me many years ago. I also love how the letters written back and forth between Lucy and Santa are actual letters on stationery in envelopes attached to the pages. Makes the story a much more interactive experience. I sure hope whoever checks this library copy out after me takes good care of the notes!

[Heather Moran · Rating 1 out of 5]

My 5 year old nephew picked this book out to read from a pile of books he had gotten at the library. Halfway through I had to come up with a new story line because the actual story tells kids the truth about Santa.
The Goodreads copy shows a cover with a wrapper that says it tells kids the truth…. But this was a library book in the kids section, obviously the wrapper disappeared at some point. The publishers should have that information in big, bold, letters on the book boards on the front and back cover, not on a wrapper.

[MaryLibrarianOH · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I real liked this book and how it handles who Santa is. I just really hope parents read the back first and realize it is about a child coming to realize that parents are behind the presents. It does this in a joyful way that still makes Santa and Christmas special but boy do I hope it doesn't spoil the magic for kids before they are ready.

On a side note, this one is tricky for libraries as it has letters in pockets that can be removed. Guessing were going to lose a few a long the way.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning: Oh, do not read this to very young children!! It's a great story for children at the age where they doubt Santa. Beautifully written explanation I wish I had heard when I was growing up or when my daughter was young. Just priceless book! Every family should have a copy, well hidden from little ones, for just the occasion. Art work is beautiful and loved the concept of actual letters to open and read.

[Audrée · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un album parfait pour les enfants prêts à apprendre la vérité sur le Père Noël.
Les enveloppes et lettres et trois dimensions sont très appréciées par les enfants.

Toutefois, je n'avais pas lu la quatrième de couverture avant de me lancer dans la lecture. J'ai été obligée d'ajuster le texte, car je ne savais pas qu'on y expliquait que le Père Noël n'existe pas vraiment... et mon garçon n'est pas rendu là! Je le conserve précieusement pour dans quelques années...

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

If your child is starting to question the existence of Santa, this is the book for you. Beautiful story and illustrations, the magic of Christmas is handled perfectly.

Sadly, I can't buy it for my library because the letters between Santa and Lucy actually come out of the book and they would disappear (maybe not maliciously, but still). However, I will recommend it to any parent asking me how to handle the "Is Santa real?" question.