SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023
SHORTLISTED FOR THE FOYLES CHILDREN'S AND YA BOOK OF THE YEAR
NOMINATED FOR THE CARNEGIE MEDAL

CURRENTLY PLAYING AS A STAGE ADAPTATION AT THE UNICORN THEATRE, LONDON!

"Comical speculation tries to answer the question we all wonder about, with much of the humour added by the pictures." Children’s books of the year 2023, The Sunday Times

"Guaranteed to bring Christmas cheer… With Klassen’s droll, sooty illustrations, and just a little naughtiness, it’s a real schmaltz-free treat." Guardian

The multi-award-winning duo of Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen tackle a perennial question: how does Santa go down the chimney?

When Santa arrives at a child’s house on Christmas Eve, does he go down the chimney feet-first or headfirst? What if he gets stuck? What if there’s no chimney? Maybe he slides under the door, as thin as a piece of paper? Or is it possible he pours himself through the tap? What happens once he’s inside?

Mac Barnett’s iconic talent for earnest deadpan humour and Jon Klassen’s irresistibly funny art honour this timeless question with answers both ridiculous and plausible, mounting in hilarity as the night continues. Channelling a child’s fanciful explanations, this latest collaboration by a bestselling team will find a secure spot among family Christmas traditions.

"Delightfully deadpan, this understated picture book muses on how Santa gains access ... it’ll delight imaginative pre-schoolers." The Metro

"The perfect pairing of Barnett and Klassen delivers a sublime festive gift in this testing question of how Father Christmas brings presents ... make sure you hang a stocking by the fireplace holding this one." Daily Mail

Prizes

Short-listed for Waterstones Book of the Year 2023 (UK),Short-listed for Foyles Children’s and YA Book of the Year 2023 (UK),Nominated for The Carnegie Medal 2025 (UK)

Comical speculation tries to answer the question we all wonder about, with much of the humour added by the pictures, in which stolid Santa is found in undignified positions. * Children’s books of the year 2023, The Sunday Times *
The perfect pairing of Barnett and Klassen delivers a sublime festive gift in this testing question of how Father Christmas brings presents, all wrapped up with dead-pan humour and deceptively simple illustrations. […] The ideal answer to every child’s bemusement, make sure you hang a stocking by the fireplace holding this one. * Daily Mail *
Klassen’s surreal, slyly witty drawings reflect the absurdity of trying to solve the mystery of how Father Christmas delivers all those presents on Christmas Eve. Barnett’s deadpan humour is perfect for reading aloud. -- Sally Morris * Daily Mail *
Guaranteed to bring Christmas cheer… With Klassen’s droll, sooty illustrations, and just a little naughtiness, it’s a real schmaltz-free treat. -- Imogen Carter * The Guardian *
Delightfully deadpan, this understated picture book muses on how Santa gains access – does he turn toffee-thin, or flow out of the tap? Humorously brought to life by Klassen’s illustrations, it’ll delight imaginative pre-schoolers. * The Metro *

Mac Barnett is the author of many picture books including Chloe and the Lion and Guess Again! which TIME Magazine named the no. 2 Picture Book of the year. Two of his collaborations with Jon Klassen, Extra Yarn and Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, have won the Caldecott Honor. He is also the author of The Shape Trilogy, illustrated by Jon Klassen, A Polar Bear in the Snow, illustrated by Shawn Harris and Twenty Questions, illustrated by Christian Robinson. He lives in California, USA. Find Mac online at macbarnett.com and as @macbarnett on Twitter and Instagram.

Jon Klassen is the bestselling author and illustrator of The Skull, The Rock from the Sky, I Want My Hat Back, We Found a Hat, and This Is Not My Hat, which won the Caldecott Medal and Kate Greenaway Medal. He is also the illustrator of The Shape Trilogy, Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, The Wolf, the Duck and the Mouse, and Extra Yarn, all written by Mac Barnett. Originally from Ontario, Canada, Jon worked as an illustrator for feature animated films and now lives in Los Angeles, USA. Find him online as @jonklassen on Instagram and @burstofbeaden on Twitter.