How to Talk to Santa: Great for Holiday and Christmas Reading or Gifting

by Alec Greven, Kei Acedera (Illustrator)

How do you control your greed, still get what you want, and spread the cheer? Get ready. Santa's almost here! Ten-year-old Alec Greven is the boy to turn to for advice about the jolly guy in the red suit. He knows it's easy to go wild when Santa is on his way and explains how to avoid Santa-trouble. But there's more to Christmas than want, want, want, and Alec reminds us of the greater meaning—giving to others and spreading joy!

Genres: Childrens, Christmas, Holiday

48 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2009

About the author

Alec Greven, 9, is a fourth grader from Castle Rock, Colorado. Alec Greven wrote a book called,”How To Talk To Girls.” Alec Greven impressed Ellen DeGeneres so much that she invited him to be on her show. Then, DeGeneres took Alec Greven to New York to meet HarperCollins Publishers. HarperCollins loved Greven’s book on “How To talk To Girls.” HarperCollins decided to publish Alec Greven’s book.

Alec Greven said he wrote his book based on observation of the interactions of girls and boys at the playground. Alec Greven does not have a girlfriend yet.

Alec - who just finished a children's book on the Watergate scandal - said he wants to be a full-time writer when he grows up, with a weekend job in archaeology or paleontology.

Reviews

[Dina · Rating 4 out of 5]

From a ten-year-old's point of view the ultimate how-to book for dealing with Santa from the all-year preparation (be nice) to how to act on Christmas Eve. There's even a lesson or two on how to act on Christmas Day (say thank you even when you might not mean it) and how you can act like Santa by also giving to others. Nicely done.

[Lucca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short chapter book with good lessons for children about Christmas

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book outperformed my expectations. Alec Greven has an uncanny way of coming up with true, funny, and deceptively wise suggestions in all of his books, but I believe that How to Talk to Santa just may be his best work, to date. It touches lightly on the right emotional chords while engendering excitement for the Christmas holiday and teaching all of us something new about ourselves and the time of year. "The real magic of Santa is not the presents. It is believing in the good everyone can do", Alec Greven states. "You can be 100 and still believe."

Alec Greven has a slight effervescence to his work that never fails to subtly affect, and always makes for an enjoyable reading experience. He is highly observant of human feelings and motives, an essential skill for any writer who wants to craft quality products, and his consistently optimistic yet grounded perspective is a rare find that will keep his stories moving through the hands of young readers for a very long time to come, I suspect. I would give two and a half stars to How to Talk to Santa.

[melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

very cute, simple advice for kids.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny and cute!