Jingle bells, Santa smells - he smells of mouldy cheese. He doesn't wear any trousers so you can see his knees. A new work by renowned poet and part-time aeronautical escapologist, Otto Fishblanket, Stinky Santa is a book about a smelly Santa. It is illustrated by celebrity childen's book illustrator, Gerald Hawksley. If you are searching for a Christmas ebook, particularly a Christmas ebook that rhymes and has pictures, and is about a smelly Santa, then you have come to the right place. (Any similarity to any real Santa is purely coincidental)
The illustrations in this book are wonderful and the reading rhythm and rhymes are smooth as glass.
I will give a warning though. Some parents might not want the littlest ones thinking Santa is unbathed and walking around in his underwear 358 days a year, ha ha, but this is perfect for the ages right after the kiddos find out that Santa isn't real.
I'm in two minds about this book, and I didn't like it as much as the author's other book Piddles the Penguin. This story is about how Santa is smelly, and only has a bath once a year. There are some manky descriptions about what Santa smells like, as well as his smelly cat, dog, reindeer, hat etc. He scrubs up nice for Christmas day, then goes back to being stinky again. My 4-year-old likes this though, and has requested it repeatedly for days. 7 out of 10
This story really had to work hard for this rating, and really it was the second story about Santa's grotto that brought it up a notch from 3 stars. I'm trying hard not to come off as stuffy and unimaginative but I just have a hard time portraying Santa as a lazy, smelly, neglectful character for most of the year even if he does his job at the end. It's not the way I want my children or grandchildren to envision Santa, but it still offers discussion points with young children, such as, do you really think Santa could get everything done in so short a time, and do you think it's his best work? There were a couple words that confused me too- pong and grotty- but, if the author is British, and I don't know if he is, those words may have meanings that I'm not familiar with. In the end, I changed my rating back to 3 stars
The illustrations in this book are colorful and cute. On the other hand, the rhymes miss the mark, and the grammar needs work. The basic plot tells the tale of a lazy Santa who doesn't bother to bathe during most of the year. His elf, dog and cat stink as well. But when Christmas rolls around, he straightens up. Santa jumps into the bath, takes his sleigh to the carwash, washes the pets and his reindeer, and prepares for Christmas. Of course, once Christmas is over, he returns to his bad habits.
Readers who enjoy the potty humor type of book might enjoy this one, but I found a lot more negatives than positives. Fans of Santa might want to skip this Christmas tale.
Santa is stinky and it is time for his yearly bath. Which means it is Christmas time!
With prose in rhyme, and can be read in the tune of jingle bells. It is a story most little boys will love because bath time is usually as difficult as Santa, his elves and reindeer only bathing once a year.
While the premise is promising and the art is quaint the writing isn’t as memorable. As you are reading, the words just don’t work some of the time. I felt I had to keep rereading and the words would not stay in my head.
This was not my favorite but if I had read it to my nephews I think they would enjoy it better than I did.
I like silly stories, even when I was a child so when I first saw the title of this book, I was immediately attracted to it. My children are already too old for this story but I got it to read so I can see if it was worth sharing with my four year old niece. Guess what? It definitely is worth sharing. I love this story!!
I downloaded this on a whim because I liked the illustrations. While adults might not enjoy (or approve) of making fun of Old Saint Nick, this is a children's book and experience tells me that young children usually love this type of humor.
It's silly enough to get a few giggles from the kiddos and I'm sure that's what it was meant to do. Mission accomplished!
Like the creativity and work that was put into this storyline but I felt my clean image of Santa and all the gifts on the sleigh that were sanitary sort of got ruined after reading the story. At least Santa cleans himself after all but leaves me feeling Christmas dirty.
My grandchildren and I just read this together and laughed and giggled all the way through. The illustrations are bright and clear and have so many things for the children to point out along the way. Such a fun different look at Santa!
Not a fan. Santa doesn't bathe or have clean things (e.g., his pets and sled) from Christmas Day until the following December. But even when he does bathe in December, the illustrator still makes him look dirty. I guess I just don't like thinking Santa is a slob.
My kids who are 4 & 5 think this book is hilarious the older one especially laughs all the way through he loves the lazy reindeer. Its a lovely book its comical and the pictures are bright and cheerful and quite funny and the ending is really nice
This is a funny and unusual twist on the classic Santa story. Poor Santa needs to learn to bathe more than once a year! My boys (7 & 11) enjoyed listening to the story.
Great children's book with images that fit the story line. This was a great book to take turns reading with my daughter. It allowed her to feel confidant in her reading level.
Read it toghether with my kid. Singing jingle bells tune! We had a lot of fun. Illustrations are nicely done and text despite rather simple leads you in the season spirit! Was a quite nice surprise. Also includes a extra present inside..
This was a really quick read. The illustrations are cute and the story is as well. It's definitely a different take on the Christmas season. I enjoyed reading this to my nephew