Mac Barnett, (text) and Jon Klassen, (illustrator), How does Santa go down the chimney?, Walker Books, October 2023, 32 pp., RRP $27.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781529512779
It’s so refreshing to find a Christmas book for children that is not saccharine sweet! That doesn’t mean that this picture book doesn’t have a heart – because it does, but it also has a touch of anarchy about it, and a large dose of humour. Kids (and adults) are going to love it!
Barnett and Klassen have teamed up before on a couple of picture books, one winning a Caldecott Honour Award and they obviously ‘get’ each other’s sense of fun.
Barnett posits some likely answers to a question asked by many a child; how does Santa go down the chimney? And supporting his suggestions, Klassen provides some hilarious illustrations.
Does he go headfirst?
Or feet first?
Or neither?
The third illustration on this page shows Santa appearing in the fireplace bottom first, revealing a sneaky little glimpse of ‘plumber’s crack’ which I am sure will bring on gales of laughter from both adults and children.
Does his suit get quite sooty?
Because chimneys have soot.
And then does Santa do laundry
Before he goes to the next house?
Here we find poor Santa in the basement, perched in front of a clothes dryer, wearing only his singlet and heart-covered boxers, reading a paper, and sporting a faded anchor tattoo.
Maybe Santa knows about the key under the flowerpot, even though nobody is ever, ever supposed to mention the key under the flowerpot.
So how would he find out about that?
The magic of Christmas! This book does not pretend to know the answer to this ubiquitous question, and families will have a lot of fun making up suggested answers, incorporating their own family traditions.
The publisher suggests a reading age of 3-8 years old, but I think many adults will also get a giggle out of this seasonal treat. Add a copy to your Christmas stocking! Merry Christmas.
Reviewed by Gaby Meares