Santa's Lost List🎅

There’s a knock at the window, and a little elf asks for help. The journey north is on the back of a young reindeer who hasn’t quite learned to fly, so it’s a bumpy and funny ride. Beneath the northern lights, they land at Santa’s workshop, where everyone is rushing around searching.

Your child finds clues: a torn corner of the list in the snow, tracks leading across the ice and an old reindeer who has seen something. Time is short, with Christmas Eve approaching. Where the list has gone, and which present ends up at the very bottom, is for you to discover in the book.

This idea is lovely for the weeks before Christmas, as the excitement grows, and for children who wonder how Santa manages to deliver all those presents. It also makes an early Christmas gift in December, leaving plenty of evenings to read it before the big day. If you’re spending Christmas with family, you can read it aloud to all the cousins together.

A three-year-old will enjoy the snow, the young reindeer and the elf’s rosy cheeks. An eight-year-old can follow the clues like a detective and think about how to make a list with room for everyone.

Add the names of siblings, cousins and friends so they appear on the list your child is looking for. Tell us about your Christmas traditions, whether it’s decorating the tree, hanging up stockings or leaving a treat for Santa, so Christmas Eve in the book can feel like yours. The cat could sneak along to the North Pole in a pocket, and one of your child’s wishes this year could be tucked into the story.

After reading, you could write a wish list of things you’d like to give others, rather than things you’d like to receive. What might make a grandparent, a neighbour or the birds outside happy? Find more ideas for festive books under Christmas.