Super Santa : the science of Christmas Author: Hale, Bruce | ||
Price: $18.18 |
Summary:
When you're opening up your perfect gift Christmas morning, have you ever wondered how that gift made it all the way from the North Pole to under your Christmas tree? Take a peek behind the scenes into Santa's Workshop and discover how a little science and engineering and a whole lot of Christmas magic all work together to make this special day sparkle.
Illustrator: | Francis, Guy |
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Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (09/01/21)
School Library Journal (11/01/21)
Booklist (09/15/21)
The Hornbook (00/11/21)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 09/15/2021 Along with inviting readers to consider some big numbers—How far would Santa have to travel to deliver a billion presents to about 200 million homes? Around 20 million miles!—Hale gives the teeming crew of elves, headed by capable gadgeteer Mrs. Claus, kudos for not only making all those gifts but also making sure that all nine (yes, nine) reindeer have nonskid hooves for all the rooftop landings and that the jolly driver wears proper safety gear. How does he do it in one night? In part, at least, by crossing the International Date Line, which gives him 31 hours of darkness—though how he manages to carry a million-ton payload or down 400 million cookies (and 200 million glasses of milk) is left for him to know. Sharp-eyed viewers will note, in Francis' exuberant cartoon scenes, that Santa’s high-tech systems are state of the art, his red pants are fireproof, and those reindeer aren’t the sleigh’s only power source. A soaring tribute to an annual feat that combines magic, science, and engineering. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 11/01/2021 Gr 1–3—Visiting every good girl and boy on Christmas Eve is no easy feat, but with the right team on his side, Santa can achieve great things. Christmas Eve is fast approaching, and Santa's workshop is filled with the sights and sounds of countless elves making final preparations for the big night. From verifying the sturdiness of Santa's suit to adding extra grip to the reindeer's hooves, every element of the journey must be tested to ensure its success. When the conveyor belt jams, and Santa's departure is delayed, he must harness the power of science to make all of his deliveries on time. Anyone who has ever wondered just how Santa gets to every house on Christmas Eve carrying the amount of presents required will find a plethora of scientific explanations in this book. By using recognizable comparisons such as LEGO sets and the distance from the Earth to the moon, readers will easily comprehend the enormous magnitude of this annual feat. Santa is depicted as a chiseled, burly character, his physique able to withstand the G-forces he experiences on his travels. Santa and Mrs. Claus are depicted with light skin and rosy complexions, and they are surrounded by a diverse cast of elves. The computer-rendered images show more of the preparations than the text explains, offering a visually engaging backdrop to the story. VERDICT This STEM-oriented Christmas extravaganza speaks to elementary school-age readers and is a unique and entertaining take on Santa's iconic voyage.—Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver P.L. - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.