Book 22 is by the fabulous Marla Frazee from 2005, Santa Claus: The World’s Number One Toy Expert.
This book is fantastic. Not being much of a Santa lover myself, this book completely changes my mind about the jolly fellow. This is a story about that famous guy in the red suit that pretty much only gets talked about in December. If you’ve ever wondered how on earth dear old Santa gets everything done and always just right, this is the book for you.
As the number one kid expert, toy expert, and gift expert; this guy is one busy dude. Not only does he meet as many kids around the world as he can; he also gets to know every possible toy, catalogs information about each kid and toy, matches up all the toys with just the right kid, wraps them perfectly, and delivers them all right on time. Whew! And nothing makes Santa happier.
Marla Frazee’s Santa Claus is the most lovable round man I’ve ever seen. It is marvelous to have such a magical, overdone character so incredibly humanized and endearing. With his bald head, amazingly patterned boxers with suspenders, and his red converse sneakers, this guy just warms my heart. I think any one who opens this book will get a kick out of watching Santa play with every toy (including a pogo stick!) and down lots of polka dotted cups of coffee while sucking on a candy cane and working enormously hard. Seriously, I can’t stress enough the delightfulness of this hilarious book.
When I first encountered Marla Frazee, it was with her 2009 Caldecott Honor Book, A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever. I fell in love with her style instantly. I’m not sure how I never noticed her before with such a nice pile of books to her pen, including some written by the always lovely Mem Fox and Mary Ann Hoberman. She continues to write and illustrate, as well as teaches children’s book illustration at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. There is a wonderfully long interview with her about a myriad of topics on Reading Rockets, as well as humorous and incredibly inspiring FAQs and more on her website (which unfortunately is flash so I can’t directly link to them, but you should easily find them if you try.)
I highly recommend learning more about the whole toy gift giving process with this jolly book by Ms. Frazee. And if you are like me, you’ll be chuckling at all Santa’s activities and expressions, but especially will drool over that fabulous wrapping room of his!
Follow along our book adventure at 25 Days of Christmas Books.
Three Books a Night 
Ah! We love this book. I forgot how much I love the funny little illustrations until we pulled it out this year!
So fun to see so many of our loved Christmas stories on your list!
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