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The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold Hardcover – Picture Book, October 11, 2016
Purchase options and add-ons
- Reading age4 - 8 years
- Print length32 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade levelPreschool - 3
- Dimensions8.63 x 0.4 x 11.06 inches
- PublisherTundra Books
- Publication dateOctober 11, 2016
- ISBN-101770498249
- ISBN-13978-1770498242
Frequently bought together
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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Review
PRAISE FOR The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold:
“An amusing story with the welcome inclusion of a multiracial family.” --Kirkus Reviews
“A fun story and a great antidote to holiday skepticism.” --School Library Journal
"...deliciously fun." --Publishers Weekly
“This clever and funny book laced with slapstick elements flips a regular holiday story on its head. Santa proves a natural in his role as a skeptical detective, equal parts curmudgeonly and cuddly.” --Quill and Quire
“The artwork by Cale Atkinson is perfectly suited for the story - with its bright and overstuffed illustrations. While definitely evoking Christmas colours and themes, it never feels overdone. Atkinson also does great work capturing the facial expressions of all the characters.” --CM Magazine
“Relatable and entertaining, this tongue-in-cheek picture book turns a child’s inevitable disbelief of Santa Claus on its head.” --Booklist
“What kids will like: This extremely clever twist on “Is there really a Santa Claus?” anxiety will provoke jelly-belly laughs from kids and adults alike.” --USA Today
“Good reading skills will lend appreciation to this story of a flummoxed Santa.” --Midwest Book Review
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Tundra Books; Illustrated edition (October 11, 2016)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 32 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1770498249
- ISBN-13 : 978-1770498242
- Reading age : 4 - 8 years
- Grade level : Preschool - 3
- Item Weight : 1.02 pounds
- Dimensions : 8.63 x 0.4 x 11.06 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,169,967 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,329 in Children's Christmas Books (Books)
- #16,273 in Children's Humor
- #26,021 in Children's Activity Books (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
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Maureen Fergus is an award-winning author whose books have been translated into a dozen languages, optioned for television, adapted for stage and shortlisted for such prestigious awards as the Sunshine State Young Readers Award, The Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book Award, The Canadian Children's Book Centre Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award and the Ontario Library Association Silver Birch Award. Her books have been selections of the Junior Library Guild and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, and have been included in the McDonald's Restaurant Happy Meals book program. Her novels include "Exploits of a Reluctant (But Extremely Goodlooking) Hero", "The Gypsy King" trilogy and "Ortega", which won the McNally Book for Young People Award. Her pictures books include "Buddy and Earl", which was a Boston Globe Best Book, "The Reptile Club", which was a Globe and Mail 100 selection, and "The Day My Mom Came To Kindergarten", which won the Ontario Library Association Blue Spruce Award. Maureen lives in Winnipeg, Canada with her family.
You can learn more about Maureen by visiting her website at www.maureenfergus.com.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the story delightful and well-written. They appreciate the humor and creative artwork. The illustrations are described as great, delightful, and fun.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the story. They find it cute, sweet, and a favorite Christmas book. The writing is well-crafted, with an adorable Santa character.
"...This book is perfect for early elementary children. The story is adorable and will keep a young reader’s attention and have them asking to read it..." Read more
"This is a very funny story. It is cute, sweet, and well written. My family loves it, and I've been buying it for all my friends with kids...." Read more
"This is a new favorite Christmas book: I love how the reality of a child starting to doubt the existence of Santa is flipped around and Santa is..." Read more
"Love this turn on believing in Christmas Magic. My students laughed out loud!" Read more
Customers enjoy the humor of the book. They say it's funny and students laugh out loud.
"...My 5yo son (a FIRM Santa believer) was in stitches, and the book is actually funny (not just by 5yo standards), the illustrations are fantastic...." Read more
"This is a very funny story. It is cute, sweet, and well written. My family loves it, and I've been buying it for all my friends with kids...." Read more
"...Looks brand new! Very funny take on the “is Santa real?” question. For the record, YES HE IS!" Read more
"Love this turn on believing in Christmas Magic. My students laughed out loud!" Read more
Customers enjoy the book's visual quality. They find the illustrations delightful and creative.
"...The illustrations were fabulous throughout the entire book. I loved how everything was rounded...." Read more
"...the book is actually funny (not just by 5yo standards), the illustrations are fantastic...." Read more
"...The story and illustrations are delightful!" Read more
"My creative drama class loved this book! It really gave us a lot of laughs and wonderful creative material to work with!" Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2019What I Loved:
We all know that there are children that are questioning if Santa is real; if happens all the time. What we may NOT have known is that SANTA questioned if Harold, a child, was real!
I loved that this book took a real life situation and flipped it over. The way the authors used this common occurrence, but changed the players had my entire family giggling. Santa questions Harold’s existence because of a variety of inaccuracies such as: Harold used to be really tiny and now he’s MUCH larger, Harold can’t really be the one writing the letters to Santa, it must be his mother, and so many other things! It was adorable!
How I Felt:
The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold gives a child a reason to believe again. We go through the first half of the book listening to Santa’s long list of reason’s why he thinks that Harold isn’t real. Mrs. Claus listens and tries to bring Santa around, but he will not have his mind changed.
The book then takes us to the other side of this story. Harold, in his home, deciding that he’s going to wait up all night to see if Santa is or is not real. The book gives the reader a chance to see both sides of this story and I loved that while Santa was losing faith that Harold was real, Harold was losing faith that Santa was real.
Both of my children enjoyed everything about this book, and while I rated it a 5 star read, my kids gave it a 10 STAR RATING.
The illustrations were fabulous throughout the entire book. I loved how everything was rounded. Santa was adorable as a big circular Jolly Old Saint Nick.
The colors were bright and vibrant making every page a joy to look at and there was so much TO look at! The details that were added to each page made the story really come to life.
To Read or Not To Read:
This book is perfect for early elementary children. The story is adorable and will keep a young reader’s attention and have them asking to read it again and again.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2019This was our Christmas book hit this year. My 5yo son (a FIRM Santa believer) was in stitches, and the book is actually funny (not just by 5yo standards), the illustrations are fantastic. As a parent of a biracial family (who was also born into a biracial family), it was SO AWESOME to see a biracial couple as the parents. They don’t make it part of the story of anything which is great, just seeing that in a children’s book like this really warmed my heart. I would have LOVED a booked like this when I was little and there weren’t as many families that looked like mine. This will be a story we will treasure for years and years to come.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2021This is a very funny story. It is cute, sweet, and well written. My family loves it, and I've been buying it for all my friends with kids. I rate it 10/10!
- Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2019My kids and I love this book! I was so excited to find it used at such a good price. And even more pleasantly surprised at what great shape it is in! Looks brand new! Very funny take on the “is Santa real?” question. For the record, YES HE IS!
- Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2016This is a very amusing book and a childhood minefield, so proceed with extreme caution. SPOILERS!
Santa is beginning to have doubts about whether Harold exists. Harold is having doubts about whether Santa exists. Each lies in wait in Harold's living room in order to determine once and for all if the other exists. When they surprise each other on Christmas morning it's all happiness and hugs and kisses.
The book is very clever as it follows Santa's growing doubt about whether Harold is real. He talks to Mrs. Claus, the elves, his reindeers. His doubts about Harold mirror those that all kids develop about Santa as they get older. There is real charm and good humor built into these passages. Harold's growing doubt gets a little less attention, but is there to set up the big happy ending reveal. It's all done with a light touch and a nice sense of how this all works. The running joke of turning the tables on who doubts whom buoys the book nicely. As a written work the whole project impresses and entertains.
But, this isn't "Miracle on 34th Street" or a "Yes, Virginia" essay, both of which were pretty coy, and more directed to adults. This is a kids book that goes right to the heart of do-you-or-don't-you believe. All the while I was reading it I was thinking about who I could read it to, whether I would have the nerve to introduce this to a kid, and whether it would ever be fair to read or give this to a kid other than my own. A kid who believes in Santa won't really get the joke, and I wouldn't want to introduce doubt where there is none. A kid who no longer believes in Santa would probably get the joke, but might not appreciate it. A kid well beyond Santa age probably wouldn't be interested. I don't think I'd have the nerve to make that call, and I certainly wouldn't make that call with someone else's kids.
I know some people are obsessed with not messing with Santa belief and some people have no patience for such niceties. Some dismiss it out of hand, some are uneasy with the whole deal, and some cherish every moment of belief. So, as I said, --land mines ahead. Be warned.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
- Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2016This is a new favorite Christmas book: I love how the reality of a child starting to doubt the existence of Santa is flipped around and Santa is doubting the existence of a child. The story and illustrations are delightful!
- Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2020Love this turn on believing in Christmas Magic. My students laughed out loud!
- Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2019My creative drama class loved this book! It really gave us a lot of laughs and wonderful creative material to work with!
Top reviews from other countries
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in Canada on November 17, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous book
Such a cute book!! Bought this for my step father and he got a great kick out of it!!
-
Danielle FreitasReviewed in Brazil on January 10, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente livro para o período natalino
O livro é adorável!
Muito bem ilustrado, conta de forma hilária como Papai Noel dúvida da existência de uma criança.
Perfeito para quando seu filho é informado por outras crianças, colegas de sala ou primos, que Papai Noel não existe.
Uma pena a Amazon, só ter a versão em inglês, mas mesmo assim é uma ótima compra.
Indico para crianças entre 5 e 8 anos.
- KMacReviewed in Canada on January 3, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars A well written story
I love this book. Well written.