A Cookie for Santa
In this clever twist on the Night Before Christmas story, a gingerbread boy cookie is carefully crafted and placed on a plate. He was made special to serve as Santa's nighttime snack, a homemade thank-you for all the presents he will deliver. The cookie wonders if he is brave enough to face up to his holiday duty. But instead of spending the evening contemplating his fate, the gingerbread boy finds himself facing two rambunctious puppies experiencing their very first Christmas. Their mischief includes a tug-of-war with presents, leaving a big mess. And it's up to the gingerbread boy to save the day…and Christmas!
Interest Level | Grade 1 - Grade 4 |
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Reading Level | Grade 3 |
Dewey | E |
Lexile | 540L |
ATOS Reading Level | 3.0 |
Guided Reading Level | K |
Language | English |
Publisher | Sleeping Bear Press |
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Available Formats | Hardcover (9781585368839), PDF (9781627537742), Hosted ebook (9781627538008) |
Copyright | 2014 |
Number of Pages | 32 |
Dimensions | 11 x 9 |
Graphics | Full-color illustrations |
- 2014 Creative Child Award - Preferred Choice Kids Book Category
Booklist - A Cookie for Santa
A gingerbread cookie is baked especially for Santa’s visit in this spin on “The Night before Christmas.” As he sits awaiting Santa’s arrival, the cookie has some concerns: “Later that evening, / When he’d be devoured / Would he be brave? / Or a crumbling coward?” Then two enthusiastic puppies burst into the room. The gingerbread boy attempts to divert the dogs’ attention to keep them from demolishing the tree and ornaments. The puppies’ antics keep the cookie’s mind off his troubles until the big man arrives. Bright illustrations will hold children’s attention as the gingerbread boy, reminiscent of Mr. Bill of Saturday Night Live fame, interacts with the dogs and with Santa Claus himself. Youngsters will anxiously listen to learn the cookie’s fate.
School Library Journal - A Cookie for Santa
On Christmas Eve, a Gingerbread Boy anxiously awaits the arrival of Santa Claus and his own demise as a snack for the jolly old elf. “Later that evening/When he’d be devoured/Would he be brave?/Or a crumbling coward?” Two rowdy puppies soon tear him from his morbid thoughts; to stop them from making more of a mess with presents and the Christmas tree, the Gingerbread Boy distracts them by dancing until Santa arrives, then helps Santa clean up. Impressed, Santa hires him instead of eating him—and the puppies get a gift certificate to obedience school. The text, which uses the rhythm and rhyme scheme of Clement C. Moore’s iconic “The Night Before Christmas,” lollops along, and the spreads of a plucky, icing-daubed Gingerbread and those two gamboling puppies will be kid-pleasers.
Kirkus Reviews - A Cookie for Santa
“The Gingerbread Man” mixes it up with “The Night Before Christmas” in this cleverly constructed Christmas story about a smart cookie who avoids becoming Santa’s midnight snack. " ‘Twas the night before Christmas, / And there on a plate, / Was a Gingerbread Boy / Awaiting his fate." Using the rhyme scheme and meter of “The Night Before Christmas,” the story describes the Gingerbread Boy’s fear as he anticipates Santa’s arrival. As he nervously waits, two boisterous puppies burst into the room, knocking down decorations and ornaments. The Gingerbread Boy springs into action, distracting the dogs by spinning on a large ornament until Santa’s arrival. Santa and the cookie clean up the mess, and Santa rewards the Gingerbread Boy for his thoughtful help by asking him to come to the North Pole as his night watchman. The rhyming verses are pitch-perfect in their cadence, with snappy rhyming pairs and bouncy energy just like that of the overactive puppies. Bold illustrations with a variety of perspectives include lots of close-ups of the Gingerbread Boy, drawing readers into his dilemma. The supersized horizontal format and capacious, mostly double-page spreads make this a natural choice for reading to a large group, but it would also work well for a family on Christmas Eve. A successful mixture of two classic ingredients yields a sweet Christmas treat. (Picture book. 3-6)
A Cookie for Santa - Activity Pages
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Author: Stephanie Shaw
Stephanie Shaw is an Oregonian native, thrilled to have plenty of weather-related reasons to stay indoors reading and writing. A former teacher and school administrator, Stephanie lives in Petaluma, California.
Illustrator: Bruno Robert
Bruno says, "From an early age, I have had in mind to draw and play with colours, so much so that I naturally went to the National School of Fine Arts in Caen which I attended from 1991 to 1995 (option visual communication). Right after a short stay in the multimedia market, I illustrated my first album for the young “Who is sticking out the tongue?” published by Magnard Edition in 2002, some more followed. Moreover, I work for the young children press, Milan Press, Fleurus Press. I also work for publishing agencies and administrations. I live and work in Normandy where I was born. While I am picturing a story, I please myself thinking up a funny and coloured world with a hint of tenderness."
Bruno’s clients include A Cappella for Fleurus Edition, Ricochet Edition, Element Edition, Child’s Play, Magnard Edition, Gulf Stream Edition, Cartes d’Art Edition, Milan Press, Le Senevé Edition, Montessori Korea Edition, Hemma Edition, Fleurus Press, Lipokili Edition, Petit à Petit Edition, Larivière Jeunesse Edition
Author/Illustrator biography |
Full-color illustrations |