Mac Barnett is the New York Times bestselling author of many picture books, including the New York Times bestseller The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse; the Caldecott Honor Book and E.B. White Read-Aloud Award winner Sam and Dave Dig a Hole; and the Caldecott Honor Book and Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner Extra Yarn. He is also the coauthor of the bestselling Terrible Two series with Jory John. Mac lives in Oakland, California.

Sydney Smith is the author and illustrator of Small in the City, which received eight starred reviews and a silver medal from the Society of Illustrators. Other books he has illustrated include The White Cat and the Monk by Jo Ellen Bogart; Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson; and Town Is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz, which was awarded the 2018 Kate Greenaway Medal. His accolades include two Governor General's Awards for Illustrated Children's Books and four New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year citations. His book I Talk Like a River, written by Jordan Scott, has received five starred reviews. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

★ "Cozier than a roaring fire and sweeter than milk and cookies, this earns its 'Christmas classic' stripes with flying colors." --STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews

★ "Offering moments of abundance, laughter, and surprise, the creative duo's assembly of classic yuletide elements gives readers a chance to encounter an old holiday anew--freshly through the eyes of its most iconic figure." --STARRED REVIEW, Publishers Weekly

★ "A feel-good holiday story that will warm hearts for Christmases to come. Holiday collections will welcome this gift." --STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal

★ "Barnett's wry text is full of affection for his characters, and Smith's rich watercolor and gouache illustrations infuse both the outdoor North Pole and interior scenes with good cheer." --STARRED REVIEW, The Horn Book

"It is hard to say which is more wonderful, Mr. Barnett's droll and low-key narration or Mr. Smith's soft, warm, humorous pictures. Warm and funny and delightful, Santa's First Christmas is likely to become an annual read-aloud in families with young children." --Wall Street Journal

Publisher: Bound to Stay Bound Books

Pub date: 2024-10-22

Length: 40 pages