Common Sense Media Review
By Jan Carr
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Teensy girl gets jumbo presents in charming Christmas story.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE BIGGEST SMALLEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT teensy-tiny Clementine is "the smallest girl in the world." She bathes in a teacup, sleeps in a matchbox, and generally enjoys her size. But when Christmas comes, Santa brings her presents that are too big for her. Though she figures out ways to have fun with them, she tries to communicate her need for smaller presents. The first year, she writes Santa a message on a cookie. The next year, she scrawls a message in the snow on the roof, hoping he'll see it from his sleigh. And when that doesn't work, her parents help her hang pictures of herself with her presents so Santa will see just how tiny she is in comparison. Clementine's initially disappointed when once again Santa leaves her a very large box, but she's ecstatic when she opens it to find a doll house. Finally she has a present that's just the right size.
Is It Any Good?
This playful, inventive holiday book combines a Santa story with a kid-pleasing one about a tiny creature living in a too-big world. The Biggest Smallest Christmas Present echoes classics like Thumbelina and Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Two Bad Mice, in which a mouse couple takes up residence in a dollhouse, stories that are fun for kids since they themselves are small creatures in a big world. This story also has a distinctly contemporary feel. Tiny Clementine has a buoyant spirit, as does the text. "Most of the time, it was fun to be tiny." And though she's never daunted by the challenges of her size, she's determined to communicate her needs, making her a perfect role model for girls.
Author-illustrator Harriet Muncaster has loads of fun picturing tiny, tenacious Clementine next to her looming toys, giving kids plenty to inspect visually. This fresh take on Christmas is a welcome addition to a family's holiday shelf, and is enjoyable enough that it could even become a surprise off-season favorite.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Clementine uses regular-sized objects in The Biggest Smallest Christmas Present. Look closely at the pictures to find all the things she uses. How does she make them work for her?
Do you ever feel that you're a small person in a big world? When do you feel that way? How can you communicate your needs to your family and others?
Can you think of other stories or books about teensy-tiny people in a regular-size world? Why do you think kids like those stories? What makes them fun?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Harriet Muncaster
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Holidays
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : G.P. Putnam's Sons
- Publication date : October 18, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 3 - 5
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate