Fernandes’ version of this Christmas classic excels while differing from existing versions in several respects. A sense of light humour pervades the story, as when Santa is shown struggling to free his bulging sack from the narrow chimney. Parents will appreciate this fresh portrait of Santa as a hard worker, like themselves, under pressure to get a job done by a deadline. In the ordinary house depicted – one that children can identify with – simple elegance and comfort predominate.

The crisp three-dimensional Fimo illustrations are colourful and full of details but never cluttered. Their rich texture – the velvety feel of the rug, the life-like grain of the wooden bed – invites careful examination. Text and illustrations on alternating pages match perfectly. The design – featuring large elegant fonts, wide spacing between lines, and effective use of white background – is outstanding. This book is a pleasure to read aloud, pore over, and savour. Buy it even if you have dozens of other versions in stock.