Santa Calls - Hardcover

Joyce, William

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0694012122 ISBN 13: 9780694012121

Publisher: HarperCollins, 1998

Synopsis

Join Art Atchinson Aimesworth, his kid sister Esther and their best pal Spaulding as they travel to the North Pole to see The Big Guy in Red himself! When a mysterious package is revealed to be a flying machine sent to take them to Santa Claus, who (but Art) would ask why! Soon the kids are up, up, and away to the North Pole. With the help of Ali Aku, the captain of the Santarian Guard, and a few well-stuffed bags of licorice, they battle the Dark Queen and her army of Dark Elves in order to reach Toyland, home of Santa and Mrs. Claus, for the most swashbuckling Christmas adventure ever!This Golden Kite Award-winning picture-book, has been simplified for toddler-appeal, and is now just the right size for any stocking.

About this title

Review:

Gather round for an Extraordinary Adventure, circa Christmas 1908, Abilene, Texas. The players are a boy named Art (devoted to "the making of inventions, the quest for adventure, and the fighting and smashing of crime"); his best friend, a Comanche boy named Spaulding; and Art's scorned little sister, Esther. One dusty December day, they find a huge wooden crate accompanied by a note that says, "Open the box. Assemble the contents. Come NORTH. Yours, S.C." The next thing you know, the intrepid trio sets off for the North Pole in the freshly assembled Yuletide Flyer, at Santa's cryptic request. Let the swashbuckling adventure begin! Santa's home is the glittering metropolis of Toyland, described as "the best of the old, the best of the new, and the best that is yet to be." But what's this? Dark Elves and their evil Queen? No one bargained for danger in the North Pole. After a dashing display of heroic and ingenious maneuvering, however, the three children are delivered back home in time for Christmas. But why did Santa call in the first place? He tells them, "Some secrets are best left unsolved." The real secret of this rollicking Christmas tale lies in two facsimile letters attached at the end of the book--Esther's touching note to Santa and his reply. Beloved illustrator William Joyce, creator of George Shrinks and Dinosaur Bob, has managed an unusual feat: an original Christmas story, breathtaking artwork, and adventure tale all rolled into one. (Ages 5 to 9)

About the Author:

William Joyce lives in Shreveport, Louisiana, with his lovely wife, Elizabeth, and their children, Mary Katherine and Jack. They also have a dachshund named Rose and something else named Rex. Mr. Joyce has produced two animated television shows based on his books: Rolie Polie Olie and George Shrinks. He also produced and designed the animated feature film Robots. Every once in a while he does a cover for The New Yorker. His alarmingly optimistic picture books include Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures with the Family Lazardo, Santa Calls, The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs, and Bently & Egg.He is currently futzing around on several books and stories that embrace the alleged healing power of heroically scaled silliness.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0694012122
• ISBN 13: 9780694012121
• Binding: Board book
• Number of pages: 36
• Illustrator: Joyce William