Matt Haig. (2016). A Boy Called Christmas. Random House Children's Books.

Matt Haig. 2016. A Boy Called Christmas. Random House Children's Books.

Matt Haig, A Boy Called Christmas. Random House Children's Books, 2016.

Matt Haig. A Boy Called Christmas. Random House Children's Books, 2016.

OverDrive Product Record

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1. • value: Christmas
2. • value: fantasy
3. • value: Christmas Stories For Kids
4. • value: christmas books
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7. • value: christmas kids books
8. • value: kids christmas books
9. • value: classic christmas books
10. • value: childrens christmas books
11. • value: christmas books for teens
12. • value: christmas books for kids 8-12
13. • value: christmas gifts for kids
14. • value: kids holiday books
15. • value: christmas gifts for boys
16. • value: christmas chapter books
17. • value: christmas chapter books for kids
18. • value: boys christmas gifts
19. • value: matt haig books
20. • value: christmas chapter books for kids 8-12
21. • value: kids christmas
22. • value: christmas books for kids 10-12

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1. • role: Author
   • fileAs: Haig, Matt
   • bioText: Matt Haig is an internationally bestselling author whose novels for children and adults have been translated into 26 languages. His children’s books have won the Smarties Gold Medal, the Alex Award, and the Blue Peter Book Award, and been nominated several times for the Carnegie Medal and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. He lives in Brighton, England, with his wife and two children. He lives in Brighton, on the south coast of England, with his wife and two children. Visit him at matthaig.com and follow him @matthaig1
      
     Chris Mould began studying art at the age of sixteen and has gone on to become an acclaimed illustrator of children’s books. He lives with his wife and two children in Yorkshire. Visit him at chrismould.blogspot.com and follow him @chrismouldink.
   • name: Matt Haig
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imprint

Knopf Books for Young Readers

publishDate

2016-11-01T00:00:00-04:00

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title

A Boy Called Christmas

fullDescription

Before there was Santa Claus, there was a young boy who believed in the impossible. . . . Lemony Snicket meets Klaus in this warmhearted Christmas caper.
 
Eleven-year-old Nikolas—nicknamed “Christmas”—has received only one toy in his life: a doll carved out of a turnip. But he’s happy with his turnip doll, because it came from his parents, who love him. Then one day his father goes missing, and Nikolas must travel to the North Pole to save him. 
 
Along the way, Nikolas befriends a surly reindeer, bests a troublesome troll, and discovers a hidden world of enchantment in the frozen village of Elfhelm. But the elves of Elfhelm have troubles of their own: Christmas spirit and goodwill are at an all-time low, and Nikolas may be the only person who can fix things—if only he can reach his father before it’s too late. . . .
 
Sparkling with wit and warmth, A Boy Called Christmas is a cheeky new Christmas classic-in-the-making from acclaimed author Matt Haig and illustrator Chris Mould.
"Irresistibly readable. Destined to become a Christmas and anytime-before-or-after-Christmas classic!" —Chris Grabenstein, New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
“The definitive (and funny) history of ho, ho, ho! My children loved it.” —Yann Martel, bestselling author of Life of Pi
 
“The most evergreen, immortal Christmas story to be published for decades.” —Stephen Fry
"Humorous and heartfelt, A Boy Called Christmas will grow your heart three sizes and make you believe in magic." —Liesl Shurtliff, New York Times bestselling author of Rump
"Matt Haig has an empathy for the human condition, the light and the dark of it, and he uses the full palette to build his excellent stories.”—Neil Gaiman, Newbery-winning author of The Graveyard Book

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gradeLevels

1. • value: Grade 2
2. • value: Grade 3

reviews

1. • premium: False
   • source: Chris Grabenstein, New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
   • content: "Irresistibly readable. Destined to become a Christmas and anytime-before-or-after-Christmas classic!"
2. • premium: False
   • source: Kirkus, Starred review
   • content: "Like stockings hung by the fire, this spellbinding opus may well become a yuletide tradition."
3. • premium: False
   • source: Shelf Awareness, Starred review
   • content: "Award-winning British author Matt Haig (To Be a Cat) writes with warmth, wit and irreverence."
4. • premium: False
   • source: Neil Gaiman, Newbery-winning author of The Graveyard Book
   • content: "Matt Haig has an empathy for the human condition, the light and the dark of it, and he uses the full palette to build his excellent stories."
5. • premium: False
   • source: Yann Martel, bestselling author of Life of Pi
   • content: "The definitive (and funny) history of Ho, ho, ho! My children loved it."
6. • premium: False
   • source: Liesl Shurtliff, New York Times bestselling author of Rump
   • content: "Humorous and heartfelt, A Boy Called Christmas will grow your heart three sizes and make you believe in magic."
7. • premium: False
   • source: Stephen Fry
   • content: "The most evergreen, immortal Christmas story to be published for decades. Future generations will receive the same comfort and joy from A Boy Called Christmas that they derive from mince pies, snowmen and creamy liqueurs."
8. • premium: False
   • source: Jeanette Winterson
   • content: "Matt Haig puts the Happy back into Christmas."
9. • premium: False
   • source: Simon Mayo, BBC
   • content: "A new festive classic. Funny, sad and brilliant. It turns out we only knew half the story."
10. • premium: False
    • source: The Independent
    • content: "Like enjoying the warmth of a good fire on a cold day . . . perfect for Christmas is every way."
11. • premium: True
    • source:
    • content:

      Young Nikolas has a grand adventure while discovering his magical destiny as Father Christmas.Nikolas is a sweet, 12-year-old white boy who leads a hard-knock life in the woods of Finland. His mother has died, and his father, Joel is an impoverished woodcutter. Desperate for money, Joel joins a group of men on a quest to prove the existence of elves, leaving Nikolas with his ill-tempered aunt, Carlotta. Nikolas runs away to find his father, but trudging months through the woods, he faces starvation, freezing, and hopelessness. Then he comes across a reindeer with an arrow stuck in his leg. Nikolas helps him and names him Blitzen, and they continue their journey to the elf village together. Unfortunately, once located, the elves do not offer a warm welcome but instead lock Nikolas in the tower. It's there that Nikolas discovers, with the help of a drimwick, or hope spell, that he's become more than just the simple boy he used to be. With remarkable descriptions ("His eyebrows were sliding apart like caterpillars falling out of love") and a bit of mischief (Blitzen likes to wee on the heads of humans as he flies over), this hits both ends of the audience's sophistication range and has great promise as a read-aloud. The clever story is powdered with puckish illustrations and reminds humans and elves alike that goodness and kindness are a kind of magic. Like stockings hung by the fire, this spellbinding opus may well become a yuletide tradition. (Fantasy. 6-13) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

12. • premium: True
    • source:
    • content:

      October 1, 2016
      

      Gr 3-6-This lively British import recounts the adventures of young Nicholas, who will grow up to become Father Christmas, otherwise known as Santa Claus to American children. Born on Christmas Day, Nicholas leads a life of hardship in a remote, ramshackle cabin with his good-hearted father. When his father goes in search of Elfhelm (and a chance at a great monetary reward), Nicholas is left alone with his cruel aunt Carlotta. After enduring abuse and neglect, the boy sets off on his own to find his father and the mythical land of the elves. The fairy-tale atmosphere aptly sets the stage for magic and mischief, including flying reindeer, exploding trolls, a truth pixie, and a trusty mouse companion. Nicholas eventually changes the course of Elfhelm history, saving it from a regime of unhappiness, and ultimately discovers his true calling as a giver of gifts. Mould's quirky yet charming black-and-white drawings are a perfect complement to the sometimes snarky text. VERDICT There's plenty to please fans of Roald Dahl, Lemony Snicket, and Adam Gidwitz: offbeat humor with the ultimate satisfaction of overcoming the impossible, helping humanity, and achieving one's dreams. A popular choice for Christmas or year round.-Madeline Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library

      Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

13. • premium: True
    • source:
    • content:

      November 1, 2016
      Grades 3-5 Readers will be enchanted by Haig's origin story for one of Christmas' most iconic figures, Santa Claus (so named by the pixies!). It all begins in the middle of nowhere in Norway with Nikolas and his woodcutter father. Times are tough for the pair, who have little money and subsist mainly on mushroom soup, but Nikolas tries his best to be happy. One night, the woodcutter is asked to join an expedition to the fabled village of Elfhelm in the Far North, which, if successful, will pay handsomely. Unable to refuse such an offer, he accepts, leaving Nikolas behind. After months pass, Nikolas sets out to find his missing father, uncovering his own true purpose in life and the magic of belief and goodwill. Sidestepping religion, Haig's story perfectly captures the spirit of Christmas, and Mould's scratchy ink-pen illustrations bring charm and humor to the page. Misguided elves, a mouse that unflaggingly believes in the existence of cheese, and flying reindeer (naturally) all unite under one boy's faith in the impossible. A heartwarming holiday adventure.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

14. • premium: True
    • source:
    • content:

      November 1, 2016
      Ever wonder how Santa became Santa? This novel has an answer. It seems that he was born in Finland and named Nikolas (but called Christmas, because that was his birthday). Running away from his horrid aunt to search for his father in the Far North, he arrived in the village of Elfhelmand the rest is holiday history. Well, there's more to it, but it's no surprise when, in the end, generous Nikolas grows that famous beard and embraces his gift for giving. Spindly black-and-white illustrations feel merry even in their simplicity, and readers who are beyond the usual Yuletide picture books should find the same fanciful sweetness in this confection. shoshana flax

      (Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

popularity

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Before there was Santa Claus, there was a young boy who believed in the impossible. . . . Lemony Snicket meets Klaus in this warmhearted Christmas caper.
 
Eleven-year-old Nikolas—nicknamed “Christmas”—has received only one toy in his life: a doll carved out of a turnip. But he’s happy with his turnip doll, because it came from his parents, who love him. Then one day his father goes missing, and Nikolas must travel to the North Pole to save him. 
 
Along the way, Nikolas befriends a surly reindeer, bests a troublesome troll, and discovers a hidden world of enchantment in the frozen village of Elfhelm. But the elves of Elfhelm have troubles of their own: Christmas spirit and goodwill are at an all-time low, and Nikolas may be the only person who can fix things—if only he can reach his father before it’s too late. . . .
 
Sparkling with wit and warmth, A Boy Called...

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