Letters from Father Christmas

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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Letters from Father Christmas is a clever collection of illustrated letters fantasist J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, created for his children. They expand on traditional stories of St. Nicholas and the North Pole, adding the accident-prone "helper" the North Polar Bear, troublesome goblins, Snowboys, and others. In one tale the Man in the Moon drinks brandy and falls asleep. There are references to war, including messengers who don't return, displaced children, and special deliveries of basic comforts to families in need.
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What's the Story?
Is It Any Good?
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the type and illustrations complement each other. Would you prefer to see just reproductions of the letters?
How does J.R.R. Tolkien's imagining of life at the North Pole compare with other stories of Santa?
Families may want to infuse their own holiday traditions with Tolkien's spirit, perhaps beginning a correspondence with Santa themselves.
Book Details
- Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
- Illustrator: J.R.R. Tolkien
- Genre: Holiday
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Holidays
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Publication date: September 2, 1976
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 5 - 8
- Number of pages: 112
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: September 29, 2017
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love holidays and fantasy
Themes & Topics
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