Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews

Santa’s Littlest Helper

Santa’s Littlest Helper

Anu Stohner
Illustrator:  Henrike Wilson 
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Bloomsbury, 2004   ISBN: 978-1582349640

Every year, far in the cold north, Santa's littlest Helper is always the first of the Helpers to get his presents wrapped, his cookies baked, his clothes spruced up, and his sleigh ready. Unfortunately every year the little Helper is told that he is too small to participate in the big gift-giving event on Christmas Eve. This year he is particularly heart-broken to hear once again that "you are too small" and that "the children would laugh their heads off" if they saw him. Will he ever get the chance to be real Helper and go out into the night with a flying sleigh full of gifts for the children of the world?

It is only when he walks out into the forest that the little Helper discovers that there is something he can do on Christmas Eve, that there are some who have been forgotten by Santa and who need him, the littlest Helper of them all, to give them a real Christmas.

Small children will love to hear this simple little tale and look at its bold paintings. They will love to hear that even the smallest of us can have a role in big events, and that even the smallest of us can make a difference.