Mr Santa

Jarvis, beloved by teachers and librarians for the iconic Bear and Bird books, brings his signature style to a picturebook for the youngest readers in Mr. Santa. Renowned for his ability to convey profound meaning through simple words and story-enhancing illustrations, Jarvis again blends these elements to create a gentle Christmas story that resonates with both children and adults.

A young girl, filled with curiosity, has a face-to-face encounter with Santa Claus. The story captures the essence of a child’s mind, full of endless questions about the person in front of her and his apparent world of Christmas magic. The young girl seizes the opportunity to ask imaginative questions about Santa Claus (Do you eat clouds? Do you stop at traffic lights?) while also remaining delightfully confident of his undoubted interest in her world too (Would you like to meet my fishes? Do you want to hear me play?) – he is, after all, a visitor to their home. The book’s strength lies in its authentic childlike voice, reflecting the endless stream of why and how questions that fill young minds as children move from moment to moment.

Perfect for EYFS classes, Mr. Santa encourages young minds to think creatively and question the unknown. The book’s illustrations, painted in various shades of blue, evoke a dreamlike and wintery atmosphere. Santa never directly answers the girl and the story simply celebrates the joy of curiosity. It is the very act of questioning that is the star of the story, capturing the essence of childhood imagination. Please – implores the book of its readers  – please spend a minute to let yourself become lost in wonder at Christmas time

Jarvis’s unique style makes Mr. Santa a delightful read for the youngest readers. What Jarvis achieves so masterfully – once again – is to provide a text that will empower beginning readers to access for themselves while at the same time empowering the deepest thinkers to enter the space for creative contemplation provided by the text’s interplay with its illustrations. This is a book that will no doubt be a catalyst for more curious questions from EYFS children or simply make for a cosy shared read-together for young children, perfect for festive storytimes.