Parents' Guide to

VeggieTales: Saint Nicholas: A Story of Giving

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Bouncy moral tale takes a deep look at what giving means.

Movie NR 2009 45 minutes
VeggieTales: Saint Nicholas: A Story of Giving Poster Image

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age 4+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Spider2003
Spider2003 Adult
December 21, 2021
age 4+

Veggietales Saint Nicolas A Story Of Joyful Giving Review By Logan Strohl

One of the best Christmas releases from Veggietales about Christmas with great songs and lots of fun with a good message in it perfect for the holiday season and for the whole family too.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
magasalee
magasalee Parent of 4 and 7-year-old
March 18, 2011
age 4+

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

As Christmas time approaches, the VeggieTales gang is thinking about what they will do with their gifts. Some characters are thinking about which gifts they will get, while others are thinking about which gifts they will give away. Meanwhile, Laura Carrot discovers that her dad's job is at risk because the truck he uses to deliver packages has broken down. Larry the Cucumber imagines that Santa might fix the problem, but Bob the Tomato looks a little deeper into the meaning of Christmas, and a less-frequently told story of St. Nicholas' charitable journey unfolds.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2):
Kids say: Not yet rated

The catchy music and funny side-stories will entertain kids of all ages. Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber have different views of the Christmas experience: Larry loves tinsel and blinking lights and knickknacks. Bob prefers the historical aspect of the the holiday, even if it takes a detour to Greece to make a point about charity. Fans will enjoy unraveling the connection between Santa and St. Nicholas, thus answering the inevitable question: What does Santa have to do with Christmas?

The corny jokes allow for some laugh-out-loud moments; all the better for a moral message to be swathed in playful platitudes. However, for non-religious, or non-Christian viewers, the embedded religiosity of this video ("I can love because God loves me/ Jesus' love is why I'm smiling") can ultimately feel a little alienating.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what giving means to you. When Bob the Tomato mentions a chapter from the Bible (Matthew, 9) that speaks of the virtues of giving things away in secret, what does he mean? Why would giving something to someone without disclosing your identity mean more than when someone knows that you gave a gift?

  • Many religions emphazise the impirtance of giving. For Christians, special giving can be called "charity." In the Jewish religion it is called "tzedakah." In the Muslim tradition it is called "sedaqua." How are these traditions similar? How do they differ?

  • How are retailers getting people to spend over the holidays and beyond? Do you always know when someone is trying to sell you something?

Movie Details

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