The poem was cute, but I truly fell in love with the illustrations by John Manders. Charming! ( )

Santa announces he's taking a vacation. Children are sad until Ignatius Thistlewhite unites the world's children to allow Santa to take a much-deserved rest. The children begin sending things to Santa, but then he doesn't have room for all the stuff they sent plus the stuff he should have been delivering. What will Santa do? This is a rhyming poem that is illustrated by Kurt Werth. ( )

Everyone needs a little vacation now and then, including Santa Claus. After delivering presents year after year, Santa is cranky and tired. He suddenly takes time off from giving.

As the other children cry, a little boy leads an effort to give presents to Santa Claus to lift his spirits. Soon gifts arrive from around the world to give Santa a Merry Christmas from the children. Overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, it's a sentiment Santa will never forget. And to this day Santa Claus continues to visit children on Christmas Eve.

The Bottom Line: "The Year Without a Santa Claus" was originally published in 1956. The classic text has been refreshed with colorful and lively illustrations in gouache by artist John Manders. Now a new generation of kids can enjoy this classic tale. Recommended seasonal reading for kids ages 6 – 9.

This review also appears at the Mini Book Bytes Book Review Blog. ( )

What a great marriage: McGinley's 1957 poem with quirky retro illustrations that complement it perfectly. A guaranteed hit with just about any age group. ( )