Santa's Prayer

by Tom Roberts, Doug Moss

Overview

Celebrate the real reason for the season with Santa as he takes time from a busy Christmas Eve to pause and offer a prayer to the Lord. 
 
On Christmas Eve, a brother and sister stroll through their town, excitedly discussing the gifts they hope to find under the tree. Then they suddenly spy Santa quietly slipping into the church. They follow him inside, where they witness his humble prayer at the altar crèche and hear his greatest holiday wish: that children understand that Jesus is the focus at Christmas . . . and always.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781454936732
Publisher:	Union Square Kids
Publication date:	10/08/2019
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	250,323
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	NP (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Tom Roberts began his career as a professional actor, storyteller, and author in South Dakota. As a performing arts instructor he has worked with tens of thousands of youths and adults across the state. He is the author of 'Twas the Night Before Christ. Tom lives in Sioux Falls, SD.

Doug Moss received his degree in fine arts from Miami University of Ohio and runs his own design firm. He has won national awards for his commercial art and illustrations, and his art has been exhibited in the Society of Illustrators gallery. He lives in Sioux Falls, SD.

Editorial Reviews

10/07/2019

On Christmas Eve, two Midwestern siblings set out on a snowy walk, discussing holiday matters and “dear old Santa,” when they spot him walking into the town’s church. They quietly follow and watch, wide-eyed, as he kneels in prayer at the Nativity scene. Santa begins in gratitude before voicing a “concern for the children” and praying that, rather than contributing to “fleeting fancies/ Rarely lasting beyond the day,” he might remind children of “your life and your love/ And the example you have shown.” After Santa exits, the children, too, approach the altar with thanks. Told in consistent rhyme, Roberts’s didactic message comes off strong, making it difficult to connect with the characters and the tale, while Moss’s sparse line-and-wash illustrations leave stark white space on each spread. A bland, albeit straightforward telling of one Christian ethos around Christmas. Ages 3–7. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

2019-08-21
Santa puts the Christ back in Christmas.

"It was on Christmas Eve / In a small Midwestern town" when two kids walking through the snow and imagining all the gifts they'll receive see "the ol' man himself / Mr. Kris Kringle / That great jolly old elf" slipping into a church. Sneaking in after him, they watch as he walks straight up to the manger scene at the altar and begins to pray. He asks Jesus for "the knowledge that I need / To help all of these children / To not give in to greed / To recognize that Christmas / Is not all about me." Indeed, Santa goes on to actually voice the bromide that Jesus is "the true reason / for the season" and that he, "ol' Santa," is simply Jesus' "servant." The children exchange a meaningful look as Santa concludes, leaving the church "with a glow on his face." They then approach the manger to pray: "Dear Jesus—thank you!" Moss illustrates Roberts' poem with inky, crosshatched lines and spare applications of color. Santa's red suit provides a vivid focus for the otherwise muted pages. He and the two children are white. While Roberts' poetry leaves rather a lot to be desired, his articulation of a tension felt in many a household makes this book stand out, effectively bridging the gap between wholly secular and wholly religious offerings.

Inartful but sincere. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews