Secrets from the North Pole: Discover the magic of Christmas

by Saskia Gwinn, Daria Danilova (illustrator)

Christmas has been wrapped in secrecy for centuries, but it is finally time to tell you what really happens in the countdown to the big day. Join Ivy Everjingle, Santa’s Head Elf, as she tells you the most magical mysteries of the North Pole in this ultimate festive treasury full of secrets that even grown-ups don’t know.The pages of this special book will take you to every corner of the North Pole—stopping off at the workshop to see how the toys are made, visiting the reindeers in their paddock, and seeing the post office where all your letters come in. It will reveal the science behind reindeer flight, show you just how Santa’s suit is designed, uncover all the curious jobs of the Christmas elves, and even let you in on some elf magic.So wrap up warm, drink a sip of your cocoa, and take your seat in the sleigh . . . it’s time to take a trip to the North Pole and see what it really takes to make Christmas happen.  This is the ultimate festive compendium to capture the magic of Christmas, perfect for families to enjoy together in the run up to the big day and spark joy at the most magical time of the year.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday

64 pages, Hardcover

Published October 7, 2025

Reviews

[Richard Derus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: A charmingly illustrated volume about the magic of Christmas and the inner workings of the North Pole. Featuring a beautiful gold-foil-embossed cover and ribbon marker, this is a book for families to treasure in the run up to the festive season.

Christmas has been shrouded in secrecy for years . . . but what really goes on at the North Pole in the run up to the big day?

Every year without fail, Santa Claus packs up his sleigh and soars across the night sky pulled by his reindeer to deliver presents to children all over the world.

But spreading Christmas magic is no small task and lots must happen to make sure everything is ready for the most special time of the year.

Join Santa’s Head Elf, Ivy Everjingle, as she reveals secrets from the North Pole. From how Santa’s suit is designed and the magic of reindeer flight, to the many different jobs of the Christmas elves and the magic of believing.

This is the ultimate festive compendium to capture the magic of Christmas. Perfect for families to enjoy together in the run up to the big day and spark joy at the most magical time of the year.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Truly a beautiful, well-made, thoroughly luxurious in its details, fantastically engaging story about how the Yuletide gifting season must be made. It's clearly a fantasy, and just as clearly the logical truth behind the impossibilities that underpin the festive season

Ideal for your independent reader, the one who can sit right down with a book to take it all in...and this is one I think you'll want to thumb through yourownself. I mean, look:

the man himself


his duds


the house that keeps him warm


the reindeer



elf magic! it all makes sense!

I was impressed and delighted by the aesthetic of the book, delighted by the story's careful aim between fantasy and plausibility, and generally knocked out by the art.

A great St. Nicholas Night gift for the very special new reader in your life to savor.

[Srujan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeously illustrated book about how the Christmas Mega Event is organised by a team of amazing intelligent and kind elves at the North pole. I the adult was mesmerized by the book, and I don't even believe that Santa is real. My 5 YOs loved reading the snippets of these and were thoroughly keen and interested too.

Honest Disclosure: I was able to read a digital review copy of this thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher. My thoughts are entirely my own and honest, and this review is voluntary.

[Sonja Gieren · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎁 🎄 Rezensionsexemplar🎄 🎁
-s. Fischer Verlage-

🎄 🎁 🎅🏻 Das geheime Buch von Weihnachten🎅🏻 🎁 🎄
-Alles über Elfenzauber, Rentierflug und andere Wunder-

AutorIn: Saskia Gwinn
ÜbersetzerIn: Stephanie Menge
IllustratorIn: Daria Danilova
Verlag: Fischer Sauerländer
Preis: 20€, Bilderbuch Großformat
Seiten: 64 Seiten
ISBN: 9783737377034
Alter: ab 5 Jahre
Erscheinungsdatum: 23.09.2026

5 Von 5 Sternen ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

🎄🎁🎅🏻🤶🏻 🎁 🎄 🤶🏻 🎅🏻 🎄 🎁 🤶🏻 🎅🏻 🎄 🎁 🤶🏻 🎅🏻
Inhaltsangabe:
Entnommen von: fischer-sauerlaender.de
Prachtvolles Familien-Weihnachtsbuch zum Vorlesen: Magische Geheimnisse rund um den Weihnachtsmann & seine Elfen
🎄
Die geheimsten Weihnachstgeheimnisse - das ultimative Nachschlagewerk gibt Einblick hinter die Kulissen der magischen Weihnachtswelt des Weihnachtsmanns!
🎄
Wie gelangen eigentlich all die Wunschzettel zum Weihnachsmann? Wieso können Rentiere fliegen und wie bekommen alle Menschen ihre Geschenke in nur einer Nacht? Wie schmückt der Weihnachtsmann seinen eigenen Baum? Und was passiert wirklich in der magischen Spielzeugwerkstatt? Vor langer Zeit haben die Elfen einen Packt geschlossen, die Super-Geheimnisse aus der Weihnachtswelt niemals zu verraten. Denn wo bliebe dann der Zauber von Weihnachten! Doch die Chef-Elfin Gloria Silberglöckchen hat in diesem dicken Weihnachtsbuch ein paar spannende Geheimnisse gelüftet...
🎄
Ein liebevoll und opulent gestalteter Bücherschatz zum Vorlesen. Unverzichtbar für alle, die wirklich wissen wollen, was in der Zeit bis zum Heiligabend passiert. Perfekt zum gemeinsamen Schmökern für die ganze Familie.
🎄🎁🎅🏻🤶🏻 🎁 🎄 🤶🏻 🎅🏻 🎄 🎁 🤶🏻 🎅🏻 🎄 🎁 🤶🏻 🎅🏻
Meine Meinung:
Hallo ihr Süßen 💕
Dieses Buch ist einfach Weihnachten zwischen zwei Buchdeckeln! Es ist für alle kleinen Weihnachtsfans und für alle Großen die, die Magie der Weihnacht, noch nicht ganz verloren haben. *Das geheime Buch von Weihnachten* nimmt uns mit hinter die Kulissen der Weihnachtswelt und beantwortet genau die Fragen, die wir uns wahrscheinlich alle schon einmal gestellt haben:
*Wie kommen die Wunschzettel zum Weihnachtsmann?
*Warum können Rentiere fliegen?
*Wie schafft der Weihnachtsmann eigentlich all die Geschenke in nur einer Nacht zu verteilen?
Besonders verliebt habe ich mich in die wunderschönen Illustrationen und die liebevolle Gestaltung. Jede Seite steckt voller kleiner Details und lädt dazu ein, gemeinsam zu entdecken, zu staunen und sich ein bisschen in dieser Weihnachtsmagie zuverlieren.
Für mich ist dieses Buch ein richtig kleiner Schatz. Es versprüht Wärme, Fantasie und genau die Magie, die Weihnachten für Kinder und Erwachsene so besonders macht.
Ein Buch zum Vorlesen, Schmökern und Immer wieder Anschauen. Man kann den Duft der Weihnacht fast riechen.
Ganz lieben Gruß
Sonja / Shaaniel

#Sfischerverlage #bilderbuch #Weihnachten #DasgeheimeBuchvonWeihnachten
#lesen #buchliebe #bookstagram
#bookstagramgermany #buchliebe #bookBlogger
#Bücherliebe #booklove #booklover #Bücherwurm
#bookworm #Lesen #ichlese #read #reading #currentlyreading #instabooks #Bibliophilie #bookstagramdeutschland #booklove #bücherwurm #booknerd #BuchBlogger #bookish
(unbezahlte Werbung)

[Barbara Band · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets from the North Pole is a magical and absorbing book that explores every aspect of Santa’s world - his house, his suit, Christmas food at the North Pole, the Post Office, and even the history behind traditions such as stockings, trees, and toys. It weaves fascinating facts through a veil of Christmas wonder.
In the “Meet the Reindeer” section, for example, readers are introduced to the entire squad — all named — who stand ready to be subbed in if the first-team reindeer grow too tired to fly. Alongside this delightful detail, children also learn that reindeer have two layers of fur to keep them warm and that calves can outrun a human when they’re just a day old.
The book also introduces the Christmas E.V.E.S. Act, signed by all elves to protect Santa’s secrets, as well as the many elf jobs and the inner workings of the North Pole workshop. Presented in a larger landscape format, it makes excellent use of double-page spreads filled with charming illustrations in muted colours reminiscent of old books and secret documents written on parchment.
Aimed at ages 6–8, this book preserves the magic of Christmas for children who still believe in Santa and can also be enjoyed with younger ones. Older readers, too, will find pleasure in dipping into it — after all, if millions can enjoy stories about elves, orcs, and dragons, why not the mysteries of the North Pole? I have no doubt this will become a Christmas classic, a book that will be read every year.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical goodness mixes with a little Christmas fantasy and fun to create a hectic and enjoyable, Holiday read.

After the narrator, an elf, explains how secretive things have to be on the North Pole and introducing the reader to the elf pact, a treasure chest of facts and fun is unleashed. Starting with the history of Santa...and there are many surprises in these facts...the pages continue into Santa details with clothes and more, tons of reindeer tidbits and silliness, and elf antics pure. There are maps of the North Pole, schematics of the workshop, and tons more to discover.

While this is recommend for ages 6 to 8, I'd even slide it a bit higher, too. It's not an early reader, since it is word packed and a bit high for that age group on the reading level, but it makes for a fun book to explore all sorts of things together as a read-aloud. Middle graders will be able to pick this one up and explore it on their own.

There's tons of facts in small paragraphs all over each two-page spread, and to keep things very lively, these are placed all around and over bright and active illustrations. There are lots of details to enhance the information and exciting moments to accompany the fantasy side. It makes for a lot to explore, while keeping the magic of Christmas and the North Pole alive, too. And the facts will be just as interesting for adults as they are for the young readers.

[Jessica Bellemore · Rating 5 out of 5]

If anyone wants to recapture the Christmas magic of childhood, look no further.

Narrated by the North Pole's Head Elf, Secrets from the North Pole takes readers on a journey through the traditions and intricacies of Christmas at the North Pole.

This book will make a child feel as if they're in on a big secret, especially if the book is delivered by their Elf on the Shelf.

This would also be a wonderful month-long book study for a primary classroom, allowing for students to let their imaginations run wild while exploring the vintage illustrations within these pages.

This book will also delight adults, making me feel as if I'm experiencing Frankenmuth Christmas Village for the first time all over again.

Thank you to Edelweiss for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Quarto Group through Edelweiss+.
Charming story about life at the North Pole. The narrator, Ivy Everjingle, opens the book with a letter to readers providing an introduction to the magic to come. Then we learn of the Christmas E.V.E.S Act and agree to follow it as the book unfolds. Each page spread reveals more information without violating the E.V.E.S act. I love the references listed to remind readers why some info is not shared. The colorful illustrations are highly detailed and add joy to the story. Don't miss the last letter from Santa to finish the book. Families will have a wonderful time reading this straight through or reading one page at a time.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful read if you love Christmas. Your kids will love looking at the illustrations and learning about Santa Claus, the North Pole and the Christmas magic.

[Gemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really well presented and cute Christmas book with gorgeous illustrations. Especially loved the sections on the reindeer teams! Super sweet Christmas Eve read.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and chaotic read. I can see this becoming a family holiday tradition.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It made me laugh and really reminded me of the Christmas magic I felt as a child.