A Holiday Tale with a Twist: Santa, Elves, and a Very Unconventional Dinosaur
check_circlePros
- The author's charity work and involvement in a good cause make this book a great value for money.
- The modern language and simple style make it easy for kids to understand and enjoy.
- The hardcover's glossy finish and substantial size will catch kids' eyes and make it a great addition to any bookshelf.
- The cute black-and-white illustrations are engaging and fun for kids to look at.
- The book's unique twist on the traditional holiday story will keep kids interested and guessing.
- The author's writing style is conversational and easy to follow, making it a great read-aloud book for parents and kids to enjoy together.
cancelCons
- The story is a bit of a mixed bag, and some parts may not appeal to all kids.
- The book's unique twist may not be to everyone's taste, and some readers may find it confusing.
- The illustrations, while cute, may not be as detailed or colorful as some kids might expect.
- The book's length may be a bit too short for some kids, who may want more of the story.
- The author's writing style, while conversational, may not be to everyone's liking, and some readers may find it a bit too casual.
- The book's value for money may not be as high as some readers expect, given the lack of detailed illustrations and the short length.
Editor's Summary
I picked up this book hoping to get into the holiday spirit, and I have to say, it's a bit of a mixed bag. The author, Tom Fletcher, is an American rock musician who's also involved in a charity that helps sick kids - that's pretty cool. The book's modern language and simple style make it easy for kids to understand, and the nice large font is perfect for reading on their own. The hardcover's glossy finish and substantial size will catch kids' eyes, and the cute black-and-white illustrations are engaging without any scary faces or expressions. It's a unique holiday tale that's worth checking out, but it's not without its flaws.
Specifications
I picked up this book hoping to get into the holiday spirit, and I have to say, it's a bit of a mixed bag.
The author, Tom Fletcher, is an American rock musician who's also involved in a charity that helps sick kids - that's pretty cool.
It's clear that both his past and present careers have influenced the story, and it shows in the writing style.
The book is written in modern, simple language that's almost conversational, making it easy for kids to understand. The font is nice and large, making it perfect for kids to read on their own.
Kids will love the hardcover's glossy finish and substantial size. The design is eye-catching, and the illustrator has done an amazing job with the cute, black-and-white illustrations. They're engaging and don't have any scary faces or expressions.The back cover features a map of the North Pole, where Santa lives, and there's a spread with all the characters from the story.
Back coverAbout the book
The story is about a magical encounter that usually happens in Christmas stories, but with a twist - a snow-dwelling dinosaur called the Snowman Dinosaur.
The two main characters are William, a lonely boy who's lost his mom in a car accident, and the Snowman Dinosaur. William lives with his dad, who's always busy and distant, and the boy's a kind and optimistic kid who still believes in Santa and magic.
He's also a huge dino fan! The Snowman Dinosaur is a lonely creature who's the last of his kind and wants to find others like him and learn how to fly.
Main character WilliamAs the story unfolds, we see the characters' close relationships and enemies. It turns out that even the bad guys can be vulnerable and kind if they just need some love and attention.
This is a heartwarming tale of two outcasts who find friendship and help each other out.
I'll be honest, not all villains can be reformed - there are some who are beyond redemption and nothing can melt their cold hearts.
And it all ends pretty well, almost like in any Christmas story, if it weren't for the harsh ending of the main villain's storyline.
My Impressions
This book left me with a mixed impression. I don't share the enthusiastic reviews about it.
Firstly, the image of Santa and his helpers in the book is quite ambiguous. I'd say it's a bit too flippant and crude, especially for a child. The book is recommended for kids aged 7+.
Santa looks like an aging rocker or biker, with the same kind of jokes and getup. He's rocking out in his snowy ranch, wearing huge red pants and a shirt with a massive gut. And of course, who else but him gets to incubate a dinosaur egg?
After all, only Santa, according to this book, has the biggest "booty"!
Santa incubating a dinosaur eggThe elves often tease each other in a friendly way and quickly determine the sex of the newborn dinosaur:
- Look, it's a boy!
I'm not a fan of how the beloved Christmas characters are portrayed in this book.
The book also has a lot of sad moments, even some harsh ones - like the time the kid goes to school and gets bullied.
Things take a turn for the worse when the new girl Brenda shows up, making his school life a nightmare. At home, William feels unloved by his dad and can't even talk to him about it.
There are some really crude expressions in there, like 'ugly kid in a stroller', and a really mean song about a kid with a disability.
Brenda, the mean girlI'm not a prude, but for a book aimed at kids aged 7+, I think the language could be milder. Kids will already be feeling anxious enough listening to this stuff.
The book is interesting and educational, but these moments are really off-putting and make it hard to enjoy the story. I'm not even sure who the target audience is for this fairy tale - it's got jokes and expressions for adults, but the storyline is geared towards kids.
From the authorContinuation
As far as I know, there's a sequel to the story - The Ice Witch. I also saw that they released a condensed version of this book with color illustrations. Maybe that one's more adapted for kids, I'll check it out if I get the chance. I'm not buying books just for the illustrations anymore, though)
I'm lowering my rating, but I still recommend it. It teaches kids about kindness and tolerance.
These books are our clear favorites for reading before Christmas and New Year's.
I've got to say, I was blown away by the holiday stories for kids with these amazing illustrations - Kotofei was a standout for me.
Another winner was this incredible collection about Dedmorozovka - it's got everything you need in one place.
I was really impressed by the Harry Potter illustrations by D.K. - the whole book is a real treat.
Elka, Kot, and New Year is another beautifully illustrated book that's perfect for the holiday season.
Last but not least, I loved The Nutcracker and the Magic Flute - it's a great adaptation of the classic Disney movie.
