GUESS WHO’S COMING TO
SANTA’S FOR DINNER?
Written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Published September 16, 2004
G. P. Putnam’s Sons, New York
ISBN 0-399-24271-6
LC 2003026638
Copyright © 2004 by Tomie dePaola
10 ½” (width) x 11” (height)
Hardcover, Picture Book, 48 pages, unnumbered
Reading Level – Ages 4 up
From the book’s flap copy…
“Are you sure?” Mrs. Claus asks Santa when he invites the whole family for Christmas dinner.
One by one they arrive… Uncle Alfred, the inventor; Sister Olga, the opera singer; Baby Willie; his old friend Lars… and many more aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews.
With a rambunctious family like Santa’s, chaos is bound to erupt. But in the spirit of the season, everyone has a wonderful time, even the frazzled hosts.
Christmas was always the center of the boisterous dePaola family, but even Tomie never had a Christmas dinner like this!
From BOOKLIST…
“The part comic strip-style format cleverly reflects the busy, everyone-talk-at-once hum of a big family gathering and serves up plenty of funny asides.”
From KIRKUS REVIEWS…
“DePaola’s characters are as roly-poly and humorous as always, however, and his legions of fans will love Santa’s big family, warts and all.”
From PUBLISHERS WEEKLY…
Starred Review
“DePaola’s successful recipe of humor, family warmth and universal situations works to delicious effect.”
From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL…
“The result is a fun celebration complete with Lars’s pet polar bear and a flaming plum pudding.”
Editor – Margaret Frith
Art Director – Cecilia Yung
Book Designer – Marikka Tamura
The art was done on 140 lb. Arches handmade coldpress watercolor paper using acrylics.
Dedication:
For Holly and Luigi, who sent me a Christmas card that gave me the idea for this story.
And for all families everywhere that could add their own stories about Christmas dinner to this one.
And, of course, for Bob, Anne, the Aussies and Mario, who have all sat at MY Christmas dinner table.
About the dedication…
Holly is Tomie’s travel agent. Luigi is her husband.
Bob is Tomie’s assistant. Anne is a friend in NYC. The Aussies include Paul, Sara, Alexander, Fraser (Tomie’s godson), Jennifer (Literacy Consultant for the Barker Twins books) and Tony (Tony Stead, the acclaimed educational consultant). Mario lives in Mexico.
Similar books by Tomie dePaola that might interest you…
COUNTRY ANGEL CHRISTMAS picture book, G. P. Putnam’s Sons
AN EARLY AMERICAN CHRISTMAS picture book, Holiday House
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS picture book, by Clement Moore, Holiday House
GET DRESSED, SANTA! board book, Grosset & Dunlap
JINGLE, THE CHRISTMAS CLOWN picture book, G. P. Putnam’s Sons
FOUR FRIENDS AT CHRISTMAS picture book, Simon & Schuster
TOMIE’S LITTLE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT board book, G. P. Putnam’s Sons
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS pop-up book, G. P. Putnam’s Sons
Other editions of GUESS WHO’S COMING TO SANTA’S FOR DINNER:
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