Mr. Santa

With wit and affection, the inimitable Jarvis imagines the giddy wonder of a child who finds she has Santa all to herself—with free rein to ask all the questions that spring to mind.

Mr. Santa? Is it really you?
Did you read my letter?
And have you wiped your shoes?

When a little girl comes face-to-face with Santa in her own house, she can hardly believe it! After inviting him into her world (Do you want to meet my fishes? Do you want to hear me play?) comes that universal wish (Can I ride your sleigh?). With the two of them aloft, questions continue to fly: Can Santa eat clouds? Does he stop at traffic lights? Is his belly button innie or outie? Does he take a teddy to bed? With signature warmth and a gentle visual humor, Jarvis channels the excitement of every child who has dreamed of meeting the jolly, generous old soul who personifies the most magical night of the year.Caregivers will relate to Santa as he endures a seemingly endless barrage of questions. . . . The illustrations have a soft, smudged effect that evokes the feeling of a hazy memory or a fantasy—an apt pairing for the text. . . . The young protagonist’s dogged curiosity makes for a wholly original Yuletide tale, infused with the magic and wonder of Christmas. Holiday enchantment.
—Kirkus Reviews

With boundless energy and curiosity, the child shows Santa around the house and accompanies him on his global sleigh ride. . . . The series of beguiling scenarios plays out in digital artwork that features black outlines and gauzy textures frequently backlit by snow-flurry-filtered moonglow and streetlights.
—Publishers Weekly

This imaginative tale will delight readers with its whimsical tone and beautiful illustrations and is a great addition to library collections.
—School Library JournalJarvis is the creator of the picture books Alan’s Big, Scary Teeth; Tropical Terry; Follow Me, Flo!; The Boy with Flowers in His Hair; and Thank You, among others. He is also the author-illustrator of a series of chapter books about Bear and Bird and the illustrator of Pick a Pine Tree, Pick a Pumpkin, Pick a Perfect Egg, and Together with You, all by Patricia Toht, as well as Oh, Are You Awake? by Bob Shea. An animator who has worked as a record jacket designer and an animation director, Jarvis lives in Manchester, England.