[Picture Book] "Santa Claus and the Little Elves"

The long-awaited Christmas is almost here! 🎄
This time, I would like to introduce a picture book that is perfect for the Christmas season.

Synopsis

The book that answers these questions is
"Santa Claus and the Little Elves".

This is a picture book created by Mauri Kunnas, an author from Finland, where Santa Claus lives.

Finland—in the far northern mountains, Korvatunturi. There, Santa Claus lives surrounded by little elves and reindeer.

As for their lives... the elf children go to school, the artisan elves work hard at making presents, and the reindeer spend their time relaxing.

During summer vacation, they enjoy plays and brass bands; in the autumn, the elves go out to secretly check if the children have been good; and in the winter, they prepare for Christmas.

And then, Christmas Eve. Santa Claus rides his reindeer to deliver presents to children all over the world.

It is a wonderful Christmas picture book that depicts a year in the life of Santa Claus and the little elves, from their daily routines to the behind-the-scenes of Christmas.

My thoughts

"Santa Claus and the Little Elves" depicts the life of Santa Claus in great detail and with plenty of humor. "Santa Claus and the Little Elves". The illustrations are also drawn with great care down to the smallest detail, vividly conveying the lives of Santa Claus and the little elves.

It is a dreamy story, but it also has some strangely realistic parts (like how they transport a huge number of presents by airplane in advance, or how Santa applies rheumatism cream before he leaves—the details are so specific!) and that is what makes it interesting.

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I have loved this picture book since I was a child and would read it as Christmas approached.

Reading this book reminds me of the excitement I felt as a child before Christmas.

Now that I have become a mother, I read it with my son.

It seems a bit long for my 5-year-old son, but he listens very seriously during the scene where the elves go to check on the children in the autumn.

Thanks to that, saying "The little elves are watching you!" is incredibly effective during the Christmas season!

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We only know Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.

But Santa has 365 days just like we do.

He spends his time making presents with the little elves, taking vacations, and preparing for Christmas... living a busy yet fun year.

The "view of Santa Claus" cultivated by this picture book still lives within me.

Just by imagining the lives of Santa Claus and the little elves, I feel a warm, glowing light in my heart.

Santa Claus and the little elves must surely exist.

While reading this picture book, I think of distant Korvatunturi in Finland, wondering, "What are Santa and the little elves doing right now?"

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Thank you for reading until the end.
May you all have a wonderful Christmas 🌠

Bibliographic Information

"Santa Claus and the Little Elves"
Author/Illustrator: Mauri Kunnas
Translator: Miharu Inagaki
Publisher: Kaisei-sha
Year of Publication: 1982

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I am submitting this entry for the Media Pal project.