The Santa Thief

by Alane Adams, Lauren Gallegos (Illustrator)

Overview

2018 IPPY Gold Medal Winner in Holiday SPARK Award for Excellence in Independent Publishing for Children: Illustrated Book category 2017 USA Best Book Award Winner in Children's Picture Book: Hardcover Fiction 2017 Today Show winter book selection
"The appealing illustrations glow with lamplight and provide many small details that ground this story in a Pennsylvania farmhouse in the 1920s, and Georgie’s dark eyebrows and freckles give him personality. VERDICT A pleasant, if slight, slice-of-life tale.” —School Library Journal
It’s winter in Girard, Pennsylvania and the pond is completely frozen over—ready for a young boy to go skating!—but Georgie’s ice skates are too small. All Georgie wants for Christmas is a new pair of skates. But times are tough in 1920s Pennsylvania, and he gets the disappointing news Santa might not come this year. Follow Georgie as he decides to take matters into his own hands—and discovers what Christmas is all about. The Santa Thief is a heartwarming tale of boyhood set in 1920s Pennsylvania for children ages 4–8.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781940716862
Publisher:	SparkPress
Publication date:	11/07/2017
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	674,034
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Alane Adams is a children’s author, professor, and literacy advocate. She is the author of the Legends of Orkney fantasy mythology series for tweens and writes Early American picture books for young children. Adams lives in Southern California.

Editorial Reviews

2018 IPPY Gold Medal Winner in Holiday SPARK Award for Excellence in Independent Publishing for Children: Illustrated Book category 2017 USA Best Book Award Winner in Children's Picture Book: Hardcover Fiction

2017 Today Show winter book selection
"The appealing illustrations glow with lamplight and provide many small details that ground this story in a Pennsylvania farmhouse in the 1920s, and Georgie’s dark eyebrows and freckles give him personality. VERDICT A pleasant, if slight, slice-of-life tale.” —School Library Journal
"An entertaining story with a plucky main character, a problem-solver rather than a thief.” —Kirkus Reviews
"With Christmas right around the corner, Georgie is disheartened to learn that rough times mean Santa may not be able to deliver the ice skates he has been wishing for, in The Santa Thief. Set in small-town Pennsylvania circa 1920,the illustrations from Lauren Gallegos are reminiscent of Norman Rockwell’s Depression-era portraits, with snowy woods and cozy robe-clad mornings. Georgie regains his holiday spirit with a touching surprise for his hardworking parents.” —Foreword Reviews FIVE STARS

From the Publisher

10/01/2017
PreS-Gr 2—On the day before Christmas in 1929, Georgie and his papa go out to the woods to chop down a tree to decorate, but Georgie isn't looking forward to the holiday the way he usually does. Papa has told him that times are tough and Santa might not be able to get him new ice skates to replace his old, too-small pair. Back at home, his mom gently reminds him that Christmas is about doing special things for other people—and he spends the whole night sewing a Santa suit and making a small gift for each of his parents. To top off the good feelings, he even receives a new pair of skates after all. The appealing illustrations glow with lamplight and provide many small details that ground this story in a Pennsylvania farmhouse in the 1920s, and Georgie's dark eyebrows and freckles give him personality. VERDICT A pleasant, if slight, slice-of-life tale.—Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library

School Library Journal