The House of Wooden Santas

by Kevin Major

Jesse and his mother face the challenges of making a new life in a small town. But it's hard. Jesse has no friends, and his mother's carved wooden Santas aren't selling. Will there even be a Christmas? Jesse wonders. But before the season is out, Jesse and his mom discover the true spirit of Christmas.

Genres: Christmas, Canada

96 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1998

About the author

Kevin Major is the author of 20 books, for both young people and adults. The first, Hold Fast, won several awards in Canada and was placed on the Hans Christian Andersen Honour List. It was released in 2014 as a feature film. His second book, Far From Shore, was the winner of the first Canadian Young Adult Book Award. Others which followed include Blood Red Ochre and Eating Between the Lines, winner of the CACL Book-of-the-Year Award.

In 1992 Kevin was given the Vicky Metcalf Award, for an outstanding body of work of significance to young people. The languages into which his work has been translated include French, Danish, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and Hebrew.

An adult novel, No Man’s Land, about the Newfoundland Regiment in World War I, was published in 1995 to much acclaim. Kevin’s adaption of the story was brought to the stage by Rising Tide Theatre and has played for more than a dozen years.

His more recent books include the Christmas classic The House of Wooden Santas, and a history of Newfoundland and Labrador: As Near To Heaven By Sea (a Canadian best-seller and finalist for the Pearson Non-Fiction Prize). Ann and Seamus, a verse novel released in 2003 was shortlisted for a total of ten awards. It has since been turned into an opera. The adult novel New Under the Sun was published in 2010, book one of a trilogy of historical fiction. The second, Found Far and Wide, was released in 2016, and the third, Land Beyond the Sea, in 2019.

In 2018 Kevin started a projected serious of crime novels with One for the Rock. He anticipates the second will arrive in bookstores in the fall of 2020.

Kevin has been named Memorial University’s Alumnus-of-the-Year, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council’s Artist-of-the-Year .

John Moss, writing in “A Reader’s Guide to the Canadian Novel,” has said, “Kevin Major is among the best Canadian writers of his generation. He has established himself as a figure of singular importance in our literature.”

He lives in St. John’s, NL with his wife Anne. They have two grown sons.

Reviews

[Megan Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

December read aloud w/ the kids. My fav book to teach❤️🎅🏻

[Brandon St. Croix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read with Lauren and Teddy each night.

[Carol Rainey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really cute Christmas story. Wonderful pictures of carved wooden Santas.

[Sarah Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a library technician at a elementary school in Alberta Canada. When I first heard this book I was blown away.

The fun part is seeing if the kids can remember all the santas as we read each day for the countdown to christmas. Every person has a favourite santa at the end... MUST read with your family.

[Kelley Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this heart warming story of believing and hope. If you have children in your life this should become a must read at Christmas time. It is set up so that you could read a chapter a day up to Christmas. The book will fill up your reservoir. It can become a new reading tradition as well. It is a bit different and that is OK! Enjoy!!!!

[Kristy Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Christmas favourite even as an adult. Love, love, love!

[Sharon Buxton · Rating 3 out of 5]

C+.fictioin; advent story with family story and carved Santas

[Ronald Kelland · Rating 3 out of 5]

After looking forward to reading this book with my kids for many years, I have to say that, after finally being able to do so this year, I am somewhat disappointed in it. The story is decent and kind of charming, but it does not have the "timeless" and "ageless" qualities that I was hoping for from a Christmas book. Paradoxically, knowing the authors connection to and dearly held love of Newfoundland, I was also hoping that the book would be much more obviously set in Newfoundland and include descriptions of Newfoundland Christmas traditions. Aside from a few mentions of the proximity of the ocean, the book could be set in any place. All of that said, the book is considerably better than the dreck that is the majority of children's Christmas books. The illustrations, the exquisitely carved and photographed wooden Santas are spectacular, and are really the main attraction of the book. I would love to have any of those carvings as part of my Christmas decor. My kids enjoyed the book, and we will read it in December for many years to come, but only time will tell if The House of the Wooden Santas will become a true Christmas classic.

[Gordon Pennington]

The House of Wooden Santas is the story of a young man whose mother carves wooden Santas. Due to financial hardship, Jesse isn't sure what kind of Christmas awaits them. However, through observing each of the wooden Santas Jesse discovers what Christmas is all about. The wooden Santas were the most interesting part of this book, seeing as I don't observe Christmas. The writing was just average.

[Emilie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the nicest childrens' christmas books out there. When I was a kid it was a tradition for me and my mom to read a chapter a day leading up to christmas. The wooden santas are detailed and beautiful, and the story is lovely. I'd definitely recommend it!

[Channing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun countdown to Christmas. Kids (age 4) were entralled.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nostalgia on bust with this one!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great read. Heard about it on Facebook. Would be a great book to read with kids during the days leading up to Christmas.