Dear Santa (Childs Play Library)

Just when he thinks Christmas has lost its meaning, Santa gets a letter from a group of concerned children and begins working with others to make the world a better place

Look for the beauty, the richness of detail, the colour and the artistic merit of
the illustrations. For example: look carefully at the cover (opened out flat), the way there seems to be real light coming from the picture. Go to "The gift of peace" illustration, too...It radiates light! ("There once was an artist who is still considered one of the greatest artists of all time...His name was Rembrandt. He could make light glow from his paintings." Children love to find out stuff. Go to the encyclopedia or next time at the library, look up books on Rembrandt's art.

Use the letter from "George and the Gang". They seem to think they can make something happen by writing their letter. They are confident. They have the power. Do our children feel this way? They should. They will grow to be adults who have tremendous power as parents, teachers, doctors, politicians. Will they use this power wisely and for the good of others? Whose responsibility is it to prepare them?

Santa and his elves are shown helping others in very simple, concrete ways. The work is hard, but fun. What an important message. Helping others can be fun because it is rewarding and satisfying. How? Use concrete examples from your child's own experience. Encourage children to think of their own ideas for helping others by helping them enter the "HELP SANTA competition" described at the end of the book. Don't miss this because it is a real opportunity for children to use writing, drawing, musical and creative thinking skills.