Follow Santa's Tasty Trip Around the World
September 4, 2017
Furman’s first children’s book takes readers on an appetizing world tour of Christmas traditions, highlighting the treats children leave for Santa and his regional counterparts—jam-filled nastar cookies for Sinterklaas in Indonesia, almond cookies and wine for coal miner Olentzero in the Basque Country, etc. Beginning on Christmas Island in the Pacific, Furman zigzags across the globe, stopping in 32 locales on her way to Hawaii. Though the descriptions of some countries’ rituals are cursory, many offer intriguing details (“In Denmark, Julemande puts presents under the tree while the family eats Christmas dinner”). Gal’s digital collages offer kaleidoscopic tableaus for the countries, mixing images of celebrating children, the featured confections, regional Santa figures, decorations, and more. Recipes for nine of the desserts wrap up this cheery book. Ages 4–7. Illustrator’s agency: Morgan Gaynin.
October 1, 2017
K-Gr 3-All around the world, children wait for Santa Claus, Papai Noel, Father Christmas, or Grandfather Frost and leave sweet treats for him to enjoy. In Malawi, children thank Father Christmas with mbatata (sweet potato cookies). In France, children leave carrots, oats, or apples inside shoes for Gui, Pere Noel's donkey, and a slice of yule log with a glass of wine. And in the United States, children hang their stockings and leave a glass of milk and a cookie for Santa Claus. Each page depicts a Christmas scene and the holiday desserts in charming, brightly colored illustrations by Gal. Each page will leave readers hungry for cookies and curious to try new confections. An author's note and nine recipes are appended. VERDICT A mouthwatering choice for classrooms and libraries.-Jessica Ko, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
September 1, 2017
Cookies are set out for Santa on Christmas Eve in many countries around the world, described in this collection that includes recipes. A striking cover illustration shows five children of different ethnicities with Christmas cookies arrayed in front of them and Santa and his reindeer taking flight just below the title. The digitally composed illustrations are the sweet treat in this book, from a snow-speckled Santa facing the title page to the final spread with children in Hawaii setting out pineapple-macadamia bars for Santa under their tree decorated with shells. Vibrant, glowing illustrations show children of different ethnic groups along with cultural traditions and decorations. The Christmas-cookie traditions of 32 countries (or sometimes a city or a state) are each described in a short paragraph, including the type of cookie, local name for Santa, and fun, related Christmas customs that will interest children. For example, the double-page spread about Mexico includes children with a pinata and cut-paper decorations in the illustration. Thoughtfully designed front endpapers offer a map with all the locations marked as a continuous journey for Santa; the back endpapers repeat this map with the addition of illustrations of the cookies, coded to the locations by number. Recipes for nine different cookies are included, and an author's note gives further information about Christmas celebrations and Santa traditions. A delightful introduction to a popular Christmas treat and traditions around the world. (Informational picture book. 4-8)
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January 1, 2018
This cheery secular celebration takes readers along on Santa's Christmas Eve journey around the globe, starting in Kiritimati (a.k.a. Christmas Island) and ending in Hawaii. Readers learn about the Christmas treats each culture prepares for Santa and how a typical home decorates and celebrates. Warm charcoal and digital-collage illustrations enhance the sweet presentation. A world map, recipes, and an author's note are included.
(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)