Magical Stories: A Collection of Short Stories for Children Aged 3-103
Written by Píaras Ó Cíonnaoíth
A collection of ten short stories that stimulate the imagination. While I would not classify this book as a picture book, each story starts with an illustration of the main character.
The characters include many favorite types such as dragons, elves, fairies, tigers, and mermaids. It is equally appealing to male or female readers. The average length of the tales is approximately five pages, making it ideal as a bedtime story or classroom read-aloud. Each includes a moral lesson for young minds to ponder and appreciate.
Adults may enjoy reading them along with their children.
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The author targets this approximately 125 page book for readers ages eight through twelve but it can also serve as a read aloud or early beginning chapter book for younger children.
Santa and the elves are getting a nagging feeling that something is wrong. Sure enough, they soon discover that the Sorrow King has escaped and his mission is to destroy the Christmas spirit. Leo, one of the elder elves, decides to take on the nemesis. He teams up with a young, human girl named Ava.
This short book is a combination of fantasy and adventure. Can this dynamic duo banish the Sorrow King and restore the true Christmas spirit?
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Jake and the Gingerbread Wars ( A Gryphon Chronicles Christmas Novella)
Written by E. G. Foley
This book is part of a series. It is intended to be a stand alone read, but it would help to have some background before reading it.
Jake and his cousins are no strangers to adventure, mystery, and time travel. In this Christmas novella, they set off to find Humbug, a renegade Christmas elf who is intent on spoiling Christmas. They chase him to the North Pole. Along the way, they teach readers about myths, Santa, and even incorporate the Nativity story and bits of Shakespeare.
Middle grade and older readers enjoy a feel good nostalgic read focusing on the Christmas season. A clean read appropriate for ages ten and older.
Santa’s Lost Sleigh: A Christmas Book about Santa and his Reindeer
Written by /Rachel Hilz
Illustrated by Ramesh Ram
This book is part of a series of picture books about Santa’s problem, losing things. In Book One, Santa ventures outside to find the parking spot for his sleigh empty.
He enlists the help of his elves and reindeer to search. When he finds the answer, all are astonished to find out the reason. It appears there was no bad intention. The lesson for readers is to ask before you take something, which is certainly important for primary grade children to understand.
This book is written in rhyme and illustrated though some of the pictures are a bit strange. My suggestion would be to enlarge the size of the text as it is difficult for the target audience to read.
This book would be especially enjoyed by children who love humor and nontraditional types of storylines.
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A funny book that preschoolers and primary grade readers will enjoy.
Ham Hands is an elf on Santa’s staff who has extremely large hands. As a result, he is banned from wrapping presents because he makes a mess of wrapping them. He is relegated to the candy room, bending the candy canes.
One Christmas Eve, Santa leaves a few presents behind. Ham Hands knows a deserving little girl is waiting. What can he do?
The text is a bit choppy in spots and the illustrations stylized, but the message is spot on. We are all unique and special. This book is also a godsend for parents who are all thumbs at wrapping Christmas gifts.
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A fun rhyming picture book that is sure to become a Christmas classic. A new Head Elf at the North Pole rules like a despot. He forbids the elves to play, sets up authoritarian rules like the reindeer must fly only in straight lines and no singing, talking, or laughing. A little elf named Eve decides she must find the Christmas spirit that is missing. Will Eve succeed in restoring the joy of the holiday season? How does Santa Claus react?
The book is written with four lines of verse on each page, accompanied by huge, expressive, and colorful illustrations. A perfect book for teachers and parents to share with their children as a read-aloud or bedtime story. Highly recommended for all ages to get into the true Christmas spirit.
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This cute picture book asks readers a simple question. If
you were an elf, where would you go on vacation? The young reader is introduced
to many possibilities. Would an elf go skiing, to the beach, on a cruise, or
perhaps on a safari?
Two lines of text for each picture spread help to keep the storyline simple. An adult reading the book to a young child can easily make this book an interactive discussion. The illustrations are bright and attractive. Recommended especially for preschool and kindergarten children.
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I wasn’t sure what to expect from the title of this book but was immediately drawn in by the nostalgic illustrations. It turns out that the plot of the book revolves around the changes that took place from the time Santa was a young man to the present.
In the beginning, young Santa, a magical elf, made and delivered all the toys himself with the help of one moose. As cities sprang up and the population grew, Santa could not pull his heavier sleigh with one moose. As the story continues, the reader learns how Santa came to rely on a team of reindeer, how he moved farther north, and the need to have additional helpers. Mrs. Claus even learned to bake, and Santa’s slim shape evolved to the fat, jolly character of today. Recommended for children and adults as a read aloud or holiday bedtime story.
The illustrations in the book are beautifully done, even if the rhymes are sometimes a bit off.
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Tinsel is one of the longest-serving elves for Santa at the North Pole. This elf is notable for having the capability of spreading the spirit of Christmas everywhere he goes. For that reason, Santa has appointed him a special helper. Every year Tinsel is assigned to a child who feels despondent at Christmastime.
Readers are taken on a trip around the world to experience Tinsel’s successes. A boy named Timothy whose father has passed away, a girl named Maria Luisa whose family will be unable to be with her this Christmas, and a boy in Chicago whose family never celebrates Christmas are included among those adventures. Tinsel uses his creativity to lull each of his clients and those around them into the true spirit of the holiday. Children who are experiencing separation, divorce, a new community and fears of alienation will feel a lot better after reading about Tinsel and his charges.
This is a delightful forty page book that will delight elementary school age children and warm the hearts of adults who read it. Good choice for a classroom or family holiday read aloud.
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Who is Santa: And how did he get to the North Pole?
Written by Stephan W. Bigalow
Illustrated by Bill Megenhardt
I received this book from the publisher and decided to voluntarily review giving my honest opinions.
An interesting book that tackles many of the legends associated with Santa Claus using a realistic, straightforward approach. This collection of short chapters containing two to five pages interspersed with full page color illustrations is intended to be an independent read for middle grade students or a read aloud broken up into sections for younger children.
Bigalow introduces Santa as a wealthy farmer living in the North Forest region. Santa enjoys crafting toys for a hobby. Mrs. Claus enjoys cooking; she understands her husband well and is adept at keeping him in tow, while at the same time providing advice and guidance. When their barns become overcrowded with toys, he decides to give his toys away. Not wanting others to feel obligated to repay him, Santa loads up his wagon on a dark winter night and the tradition of the Christmas Eve toy run springs forth. Word of his generosity explodes so Santa and Mrs. Claus set out for a larger more private location.
The following chapters will explore how they discover the Hidden Valley at the North Pole, strike up an improbable working relationship with the elf community, invent candy canes, build an enormous business enterprise, figure out how to use a sleigh and reindeer, and spread the true message of Christmas giving among themselves and others.
I used to read “The Night Before Christmas” each Christmas Eve to my children. This book could be shared as a family tradition during the weeks before Christmas, read together by older and younger siblings, or read independently by older children seeking to reignite the Christmas spirit in their hearts.
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October 8, 2025
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