Here Comes Santa Claus
Written: Jan 01 '06
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Familiar Christmas song along with a sweet story, and wonderful illustrations.
Cons: It only takes a couple of minutes to read (or sing).
The Bottom Line: I would recommend this Christmas book for children ages two to five years old. The story is easy to follow, it's cheerful and colorful.
|
|
|
| Yzerman's Full Review: Gene Autry, Carol Klose, Oakley Haldeman - Here Co... |
Back before Thanksgiving, my daughter came home from pre-school with an order form and a list of books that could be ordered. She had already picked-out about a dozen books that she wanted. One of them was actually a set of books, all with familiar Christmas titles. I agreed to get this set of books for her, which arrived about 2 weeks later. One of these books was Here Comes Santa Claus.
Here Comes Santa Claus contains the words and music of Gene Autry and Oakley Haldeman and is illustrated by Bruce Whatley. The text is copyright 1947 and the illustrations are copyright 2002. Inside the front and back covers are the musical score and lyrics to the song, as it was written in 1947, by Autry and Haldeman. (There are three versions of this book listed under the "Details" for this book; I am reviewing the paperback version).
The book itself is softbound with a glossy cover, and semi-glossy paper for pages within. It is approximately 9 inches in width and about 7 inches high. The cover of the book features Santa’s face smiling at a dog. There are 24 pages of color illustrations and “story”.
The written portion of the “story” is actually the lyrics to Here Comes Santa Claus. On each of the pages are a few lines from the song, so that as you go through the book, you can either read it, or sing it:
Here come Santa Claus! Here comes Santa Claus!
Right down Santa Claus Lane!
Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer
Are pulling on the rein.
The illustrations alternate back and forth between Santa on Christmas Eve, and a family with a small boy named Matthew, who are also preparing for Christmas. The pages with Santa show him loading-up his sleigh with toys and gifts, including a white puppy, landing on a rooftop, and finding Matthew's “Dear Santa” letter requesting a puppy. The pages with illustrations of the family show them standing in their doorway listening to carolers, hanging their stockings over the fireplace, “Mom” watching Matthew write Santa a letter, and finally Matthew going to bed. Toward the end of the book, the illustrations show Matthew waking-up in his bed grinning ear-to-ear at “Tinsel”, his new puppy, who is sitting on the bed with a Christmas stocking and a ribbon around her neck. The last page shows Matthew sitting under the Christmas tree with all of his new toys strewn around, and Tinsel in his lap, both of them very happy. The lyrics on these final pages are:
Peace on Earth will come to all
If we just follow the light.
Let’s give thanks to the Lord above,
‘Cause Santa Claus comes tonight!
If you read, or sing, the book straight through, it only takes about 2-3 minutes. Since it is so short, my daughter and I read it the first time, while also looking at the story within the illustrations. Since my daughter wants a puppy, too, she really likes the story of Matthew asking for (and getting) a new puppy. Then the second time, we sing the song together as we go through the pages.
My daughter really likes this book. She likes the story within the illustrations and she enjoys being able to sing the song, too. She received five Christmas books in the set that we bought, so each night we have picked two or three to read before bedtime. This was one of her favorites. I think it helped both of us to get into the “Christmas spirit” this year.
The illustrations throughout the book are very colorful and “Christmas-y”. The pictures are wonderful and aren’t too “busy”. Each double page is one scene stretched across both pages. It is very easy for a four-year old to follow the story without getting distracted.
Even though the illustrated story is a separate story from the lyrics, the lyrics do coincide with the story. For instance, for the lyrics Hear those sleigh bells jingle jangle, What a beautiful sight coincide with a page where Mom and Dad are hugging Matthew at bedtime. On the windowsill is a Nativity scene and beyond that, through the window is a snow covered scene and Santa’s sleigh and reindeer are silhouetted against a full moon. The lyrics on the following page are, Jump in bed, cover up your head, ‘Cause Santa Claus comes tonight. The illustration is Matthew covered up in bed with Mom and Dad smiling from the doorway.
Here Comes Santa Claus is a simple and sweet story set to the lyrics of a familiar Christmas song. I like it, and my daughter likes it. For just about $2, it was worth the money. Even though Christmas is over, we have read it several more times, and I have a feeling we will be reading it until Easter! I would recommend this book to others with children in the 2 to 5 year age group. Even though we purchased this book in a set, it is usually available by itself.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
Yzerman
|
 - Top 1000 |
|
Member: Diane
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Reviews written: 173
Trusted by: 391 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.