Santa Retires

Written & Illustrated by: David Biedrzycki Santa needs a vacation! Santa loves making toys for Christmas, but when it comes time to take that night-long trip around the world every December, he's had enough. It's tiring carrying those toys all around, making sure they end up in the right home. And those chimneys are not easy for Santa to slide down anymore! When Santa and Mrs. Claus receive a brochure in the mail the day after Christmas inviting them to relax on Mistletoe Island, they are eager to check it out. The minute they arrive, they love it! They swim, surf, do lots of yoga-and even start eating healthy. The thought of returning to the North Pole does not appeal, so Santa decides to retire, much to the reindeer and elves' dismay. But can there be a Christmas without Santa-and can Santa be jolly with Christmas? In this companion book to Santa's New Jet, readers will enjoy watching Santa in an entirely new setting. David Biedrzycki's slapstick humor and eye-catching illustrations make this title a perfect read-aloud-during the holidays or anytime. Listen to David talk about his books on Charlesbridge Unplugged. If you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: Santa's New Jet Me and My Dragon: Christmas Spirit [TABS] Look Inside Author & Illustrator David Biedrzycki, author & illustrator David Biedrzycki has been creating illustrations for book publishers, advertising agencies, magazines, and design firms since 1980. His art has graced the cover of KidSoft magazine, New England Aquarium billboards and children's software packaging, such as "The Amazon Trail" and "Odell Down Under." His clients include Celestial Seasonings®, After the Fall Juices(tm), IBM, and Newsweek. Read more about David Biedrzycki. Awards & Honors Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Book Award Editorial Reviews School Library Journal A work-weary Santa says, "Sacks are getting bigger. Chimneys are getting smaller. And you never know what the weather will throw at you." So he and Mrs. Claus leave the elves in charge and take off for Mistletoe Island. Resort life is good to them (Santa taking dance lessons in a hula skirt will get readers laughing every time), and gets even better when the reindeer show up and join the fun, until Santa announces his retirement at dinner. The digital illustrations exuberantly serve up the comedic elements, from the exaggerated reindeer weeping to the changes in Santa's demeanor. Of course, there's a satisfying solution to the situation. The message that even those passionate about their work need the occasional break to recharge will make it easy to share the book beyond the holiday season for a career- or vacation-themed program. Publishers Weekly Santa is jolly when he’s making toys. Not so much when he’s delivering them: "Forget it. Sacks are getting bigger. Chimneys are getting smaller." Burned out, he and Mrs. Claus head to tropical Mistletoe Island, where they begin eating healthfully and exercising. When the reindeer visit, they learn that Santa has decided to retire, and they gloomily return to the North Pole to take over—with disastrous results. Kids should get a kick out of the many fish-out-of-water scenarios Biedrzycki (Santa’s New Jet) provides as Santa tries out the diving board, tennis, and dance lessons in a grass skirt. His flashy digital art—with dazzling colors, amusing exaggeration, and silly extras—keeps things hopping. Kirkus Reviews Mr. and Mrs. Claus retire to Mistletoe Island, leaving the elves in charge at the North Pole, but they find that a life of leisure in a warm climate is not for them. At first, they enjoy their new activities: walks on the beach, hula lessons and surfing. The reindeer arrive on the island for a visit, but they sadly return to the North Pole when Santa announces his permanent retirement. Before long, the quiet catches up with Santa, who misses his old routine, and Mr. and Mrs. Claus return to their old home. They soothe the upset reindeer, restore order to the toy workshop and decide that an annual vacation to Mistletoe Island will be enough to keep Santa in a jolly mood year-round. Computer-generated illustrations provide amusing images of Santa in his new athletic activities, and the reindeer are a comical cast of sidekicks. A tiny mouse character in a Santa hat can be spotted on every spread, along with a red crab he befriends on the island, creating a miniature secondary story as the two little creatures interact. The theme of Santa being tired of his job is a common one, and one more likely to be understood by adult readers than by the intended audience. Mildly amusing, but not a Santa story that children will ask for again and again. Downloadables Download the Cover Details Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-58089-293-3 Paperback ISBN: 978-1-58089-294-0 E-book PDF ISBN: 978-1-60734-459-9 Ages: 4-8 Page count: 32 10 x 8 [/TABS]