An amusing ponder on many of the theories of how Santa gets down chimneys.

But it leaves out the most important one put forward by the band Dead Hot in one of my favorite Christmas songs, the ominous Santa Claus Is Coming In Gas Form. ( )

That eternal question—How does Santa Claus fit down the chimney?—is the central idea around which this amusing holiday picture book is organized. The calm, deadpan narrative imagines a number of different solutions to this physical impossibility, before acknowledging that the truth simply cannot be known, closing with an acknowledgement that, while the narrator remains in the dark, he is glad that Santa has come to call...

Author Mac Barnett and illustrator Jon Klassen are a picture book powerhouse team, and have previously collaborated on a number of wonderful titles, from the Caldecott Honor winning Sam and Dave Dig a Hole to The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse, not to mention the Shapes trilogy. Here they set their sights on Christmas, and the results do not disappoint. I really appreciated the fact the the narrative here, which at first seems on course to demythologize Santa and his gift-giving feats by highlighting how impossible they are, instead draws attention to their inherent mystery, their magic, their inexplicability. By doing this, and by then closing with gratitude, Barnett's text subverts expectations, both of its own seeming deconstructive tendencies, and of its sense of humor. Yes, it is fun—and funny—to wonder how Santa does it, but in the end, the important thing is that he does, that he brings us Christmas, and that we are glad of it.

The accompanying artwork here is vintage Klassen, with his stylized figures and sepia tones very much in evidence, but also some lovely reds and greens, and the black of the nighttime sky. The visuals match the humor of the text, but then pull back to minimalism, in that final scene, when the narrative speaks of gladness that Santa can do what he does. This is the right choice, I think, demonstrating once again that, whether one enjoys his work aesthetically or not, Klassen is a master of his craft.

I'm honestly not sure how, and how much, How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? will appeal to younger children. I think they will appreciate it as a humorous what-if story about possible methods Santa might use, but will they see anything deeper in it? Hard to say—the depths are there, but not everyone can or needs to swim in them. ( )

perfect way to illustrate the 'unknowing' of Santa Claus for the child in your life ( )

Flap copy: "How does Santa go down the chimney?
Nobody knows.
But here are some ideas."

Barnett's imagination runs all over the place, and Klassen uses actual colors (red, green, even orange, in addition to his usual earth tones). The conclusion to the book provides no answer, only: "Santa goes up the chimney the same way he comes down. And I have no idea how Santa does that. But I'm so glad he can." ( )

First sentence: How does he do it? How does it work? Does he cinch up his belt? Or shrink himself down to the size of a mouse? Or stretch out like taffy and step in one leg at a time? Maybe Santa can turn into fire! But probably not. Does he go headfirst? Or feetfirst? Or neither?

Premise/plot: What you see is what you get. This book asks (repetitively) how does Santa go down the chimney? It creatively approaches this age-old question in a silly and exuberant way.

My thoughts: This book borrows heavily from Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. I jest. Mostly. This one doesn't feature a grouch-like grinch out to ruin children's lives. But it does take a more Kermit-like approach to the question. Does it answer it? No. Of course not. But it creatively brainstorms dozens (upon dozens) of possibilities. It then moves on to other legitimate questions. (But not the elephant in the room question of if he exists.)

This book isn't illustrated in your bright, bold, Christmasy tones.

I'm curious how children would respond to this one. I liked it fine as an adult. I'm not a huge fan of this creative team. I could take or leave Barnett and Klassen's works. I do think they can be overrated. But I liked this one fine. ( )