The Year Without a Santa Clause

by Phyllis McGinley

A tale about a frightening year that may not have a Santa but he saves the day as always and warms children's hearts everywhere

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday, Fiction, Poetry, Fantasy

Paperback

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

McGinley was educated at the University of Southern California and at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. After receiving her diploma in 1927, she taught for a year in Ogden and then at a junior high school in New Rochelle, New York. Once she had begun to establish a reputation for herself as a writer, McGinley gave up teaching and moved to New York City, where she held various jobs. She married Charles Hayden in 1937, and the couple moved to Larchmont, New York. The suburban landscape and culture of her new home was to provide the subject matter of much of McGinley's work.

McGinley was elected to the National Academy of Arts and Letters in 1955. She was the first writer to win the Pulitzer for her light verse collection, Times Three: Selected Verse from Three Decades with Seventy New Poems (1960).

In addition to poetry, McGinley wrote essays and children's books, as well as the lyrics for the 1948 musical revue Small Wonder.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

It looks like this has new illustrations by John Manders in 2010, but the story or poem is from 1956.

This story is funny and I wonder why I haven’t read this classic before. Santa is aching and grumpy. He needs a holiday so he decides to take one. He’s a grumpy old man. Fair enough, he should take a holiday. He announces it to the world and the children weep until Ignatius Thistlewhite stands up and says Santa deserves a holiday. (I love the name) He gets all the kids to send Santa presents this year. So on December 24th, Santa has a delivery of millions and millions of gifts and no place to put them. They have to empty the shelves of toys for a place to put them. All the toys go in the sleigh.

I don’t know the original artwork, but I love the artwork here. Although, there is no diversity and being drawn in 2010, that is pretty sad. Still, it’s a great poem and the art style is very dramatic. It does make for a fun story.

The nephew loved this one and we had to read it with the niece as well. I asked the nephew what he thought of giving Santa a year off and he said he thought Santa could wait until he wasn’t a kid anymore. Oh, I said, You don’t want to give Santa presents? He said, We can give him a gift if he will bring him the Harry Potter lego set he wants. (He has developed an attitude this year and I wonder if he should get coal, but that’s up to Santa.) He gave this 4 stars. The niece had fun reading the poem too. She gave this 3 stars.

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was thrilled to find this one on the shelf at the local library, so curious was I to read the story before it became Rankined & Bassed. It starts off just like the beloved holiday special - Santa's worn out and in need of rest . . . but, that's where the similarity ends. The rest of the book is about the children of the world getting together to give Santy Claus a holiday. Sweet, but ho-hum.

These guys

are not in the book.

Sigh.

I suppose my heart should have been warmed by all the little kiddies and their unselfish gestures, but shucks . . . I have been spoiled by singing puppets.

[Lesle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Grandsons and I read it together. Each of us reading one page and acting it out the best we could!
A fun read for Christmas!

2022 Santa is on Vacation! Fun read!

2024 How can Santa not do his duty of delivering presents!! The boys loved the story!

[J · Rating 1 out of 5]

Here was an interesting concept for a Christmas story in which Santa finally chooses that he needs a vacation one year since of his aging bodily issues and probably a bit of overwork. As a result it explores the whole concept of what it means for the holiday, how to help counter the affects if we are feeling bad about not being presented our own smug accolades and how it is easy to turn around tears to gratitude with a change of mind.

The book was actually a lot longer in its writing than I anticipated of and that is overlooking the fact that it is a poem. As a result this is one Christmas book that would be more attractive to older elementary crowds even though the poem doesn't fully rhyme and there may be a problem with pronouncing one of the actual names in the book.

What irritated me with this book, though, are two things. First this book's events are supposed to have happened long before any of the readers are born so if that is the case then there would surely be different clothing styles and surely different means or lack of transportation. Many readers may overlook this particular point since after the one suggestion of dating it ignores it for the rest.

And second from all the things that I have heard about Santa and the fact the book suggests he is still a Saint I don't see it as part of Santa's personality that any of this would occur. His wife is a mute character mostly in the background and so all the complaints come from a guy who is so considered jolly that he makes an unbreakable promise in the end.

All in all it was okay but probably one I wouldn't share with my children in the future....

[Eden Silverfox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Santa is tired and decides to take a vacation from delivering presents on Christmas one year. All the children cry, except for one boy who says Santa deserves a break and it is their turn to give him a Merry Christmas.

It was a fun book. I read this because it is the book the classic Christmas cartoon The Year Without a Santa Claus is based on and it is one of my favorite cartoons to watch around Christmas. The book was enjoyable, but I still like the cartoon better.

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Santa is tired and achy and decides to skip Christmas and take his first vacation. The children are all unhappy, except for one six-year-old boy who changes everything.

The message is sweet but I was not a fan of the choppy verses and cartoon-ish illustrations.

[Rusty Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Have you been told? Did you ever hear of the curious furious fidgety year when Santa Claus unhitched his sleigh and vowed he was taking a holiday?"

I love this story! It is awesome! I love the illustrations and the ideas.

[Katie Dickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

Wow what a great book! My children were absolutely captivated by the poem, the message and the energy. It was silly, warm, and really expressed the message of gratitude and giving.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great marriage: McGinley's 1957 poem with quirky retro illustrations that complement it perfectly. A guaranteed hit with just about any age group.

[Mindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea how old this book is! So sweet and fun to read. Great rhyme patterns and very "Christmasy". Lots of good old fashioned vocabulary words and a lovely heartwarming story.

[Anthony Giancola · Rating 3 out of 5]

So did Rankin Bass just have the Heat/Snow Meiser puppets already built and just decided to put them in their adaptation of this?

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

Santa's tuckered out. The thought of packing all those presents on the sleigh, then making that forever-long trip? Well...it's just too uch this year. Santa digs in his heels and announces, I may be the saint of the children's nation, but this is the year of my first vacation. Newspaper headlines scream, "Santa Says 'Too Tired' Not Coming." This, as to be expected, sends children all over the world into crying fits. Thank goodness for Ignatius Whistlewhite, who has good ideas.

Although the rhyme scheme occasionally threw me and I had to go back and re-read to get the flow right, overall this is rhythmic and clever, with some fun vocabulary thrown in to make it even more entertaining (several kids give Santa new underwear). A little longer than your average read-aloud, but one that's sure to get some laughs.

[Penny Poff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Old book with nostalgic memories

I am in the process sending off old VHS tapes and cassette tapes to be digitally preserved with Legacybox; and came across a recording my Grandmother Poff made for me and my brother Christmas of 1991. Although I didn’t remember the story itself, I bought it as a companion to my grandmother’s recording. Such a sweet story of children giving to Santa Claus. When the digital version comes back I will share the book/recording with my brother’s family and my cousins! I think they will enjoy it and the sweet memories of our grandmother!

[Rick Lee Lee James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Well Told Christmas Tale

This book for children is unique in that it teaches them more about giving than receiving. It's rare to find a book about Santa that teaches children to be givers and not simply takers at Christmas. Told in rhyme, it's a fun story that could become a new family favorite. The illustrations are great and match the story which reads well even on an iPhone thanks to the magnification feature for the text.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Santa gets a bit crabby and decides that he needs his first vacation year from being Santa Claus. This book is perfect for early elementary (too wordy for preschool). Wonderful message about the joy of giving. This was the first time I've read this title---it's one to read every year along with "The Night Before Christmas". Another Christmas classic.

[Lisa Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Santa is exhuasted, and has decided to take the year off. when the children of the world hear about it, first they are sad, but when one little boy convinces them all that Santa deserves the break, they decide to give him gifts instead. Santa is so touched by their thoughtfulness, that he decides to go out on Christmas Eve anyway.

[Thebruce1314 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up at the Scholastic book fair. I enjoy the stop motion version every Christmas, and never realized that there was a poem before the film. I really enjoyed the verse, though it is a bit on the long side, but I was a bit disappointed in the lack of illustration in this edition. Still, it will be a fun Christmas book to share with baby in the future.

[Luann · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the idea behind this is fun, I think I would have liked it better if it didn't rhyme. Sometimes the wording is just a bit awkward. It's also a little long. But still I thought it was a fun Christmas story that asks the question: What if Santa wants to take a vacation one year?

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a whimsical and enjoyable book to read to my son, Jamin. I read it to him when he was 8 and he was riveted to the book that is based upon a strange year when Santa almost did not make his famous ride.

[Summer · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 5 year-olds review

I kind of like it. Would like it a little bit, didn't like the thought of Santa not coming for Christmas. As per my review, the parent, I thought it was a wonderful story! Excited to read this again.

[Goldie Goldstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've wanted to read this book forever. I found it on Kindle today and read it. It is just as I expected. I can see how the TV Special came from this book. The book in it's entirety is in the tv special.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet, creative twist on a "Santa Clause" story for kids and big kids at heart. I loved how it justified the innocence and pure hearts of children. "Somehow, Santa always comes" - this should be a new Christmas tradition for all families!

[Miri Gifford · Rating 4 out of 5]

How have I never read this before? Such a great story, and I love the illustrations from this publication. The rhymes are so fun.

[Robin Wiesneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story and illustrations

A perfectly delightful read. I love the way the text and illustrations interact. A great read at Christmas or any time.

[Tegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cute! Great rhyming! I enjoyed this one a lot!

[P.S. Winn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun Christmas story that will make you laugh, cry and celebrate the goodness of Christmas. One of my favorites.

[Set · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit lengthy book for older kids. I have a feeling it would freak children out if Santa should so choose to shirk his yearly duty. xD

[Lupe Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

One-year Santa decided that he was tired and wondered why he never got a holiday; Santa made the announcement that he was not going to deliver presents just as his helpers were going to load his sleigh. After receiving the news, boys and girls all over the world were sad. One boy, Ignatius Thistlewhite came up with the brilliant idea that it was their turn to give back to Santa. So, all the boys and girls from the world gathered up presents and shipped them to Santa who was surprised and thankful for all the children had done. Carrying humor but above all generosity for this holiday book, any reader will be able to enjoy this book’s illustrations as well as the positive message given. Perfect for reading for Christmas to teach about the importance of giving and not always having to receive, as well as using this book when making Santa letters.

[Steven Adkison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful book

I decided to read this children's book since it was so close to Christmas. Santa chooses to skip Christmas after so many years of working. He feels he should get a vacation. A boy shares Christmas is about giving , results in children from all over the world giving Santa presents. This results in changing Santa's mind. I felt it was a well written book. Rhyme was interspersed in the story and should not be read in a right-wing voice.

[Savannah Crider · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Year Without a Santa Claus is a fun book! I think this could be read individually by 3rd-5th garters, but any younger would probably have to be read to. There are some big words and the story itself is really long. However, I really liked the book! Santa Claus is exhausted and grumpy and says he needs a vacation. However, once the children around the world step up: he changes his mind. This is a really cute book to read around Christmas time. The illustrations are simple, but good.