1. Title: When Santa Fell to Earth, by Cornelia Funke, Scholastic Inc., New York, 2006, 0-439-78204-X
2. Genre: Young adult science fiction (Santa Claus), illustrated, Ages 9 to 13
3. Characters: Niklas Goodfellow, Ben, Charlotte, Matilda, Emmanuel, Goblynch
4. Plot: Niklas Goodfellow is the last real Santa Claus that believes in the true meaning of Christmas. He has managed to avoid being caught by Goblynch, a Santa Claus who took over all of the other Santa’s and has made Santa’s lose the meaning of Christmas, outlawing all of the things that children truly love. Goblynch is only trying to get parents to spend money on pricier items like Play Stations and I Pods.
Niklas Goodfellow’s caravan crashes to Earth one night, landing in Ben’s neighborhood. Ben is a quiet kid who is good at sports, but poor with words and schoolwork. He is upset that his parents want to leave town for Christmas, because he wants to spend a traditional Christmas at home. On a dare one day, Ben knocks on Niklas’ caravan door, and sees a small man poking out of his pocket when he runs off. Later that day, Niklas invites Ben in for some hot chocolate, beginning a new friendship. Niklas tells Ben all about what really happened to Christmas, and how he is trying to save its true meaning. Ben meets Matilda and Emmanuel, the two angels who work with Niklas, along with the elves in his workshop.
One day, another girl in Ben’s class, Charlotte, happens to be passing by the caravan when Ben is in it, and Niklas invites her in. He asks the two to find his reindeer using Mutt, Charlotte’s dog. Ben is upset first that someone else is let in on all of the secrets that Niklas has told only him. Soon, though, the two become closer and must work together to help Niklas and the others save Christmas, before Goblynch turns Niklas into chocolate and turns Christmas into a purely profitable time of year.
5. Touchy Areas: None, the book uses funny phrases like “reindeer poo” to serve a curse words. Young children can read the book easily and enjoy it, and parents and teachers do not have to worry about anything inappropriate being in the book at all.
6. Related Titles: Chasing Vermeer and The Wright 3 by Blue Balliet
Movies: The Lion King, Now and
Then, A Christmas Carol
Music: Dreaming of a White Christmas, Santa Claus is Coming to Town
7. Evaluation: When Santa Fell to Earth is a warm and enjoyable book that is very easy to read. The book sends a great message about helping people and accepting everyone, despite differences, and to never be afraid to believe in what you want to believe is true. Children and adults can learn from this book while enjoying a quick read. I think that students would like this book because the two children, Ben and Charlotte, are very relatable for young children. Students would likely recognize themselves in the characters and want to read more. The book also takes many things and ideas that are traditionally Christmas and gives them a twist, such as giant Nutcracker dolls that turn real Santa’s into chocolate, and elves that make tiny toys that turn larger in children’s hands. I cannot think of many students who wouldn’t enjoy reading about these things, and thinking of more on their own. I do wish the book wasn’t written at such a young level, I thought some of the material could have been a little more mature, making the book more appealing to older students, as well. The book could have been more exciting and included a few more twists and turns just to make it a little more exciting, but overall it was good. I would rate this book as 7 out of 10.
8. Reviewed by: Kelly Altepeter, University of Toledo