Последният подарък за Коледа

by Adam Baron, Адам Барън, Benji Davies (Illustrator)

Join one small pup on a VERY big Christmas adventure!

Father Christmas has a problem. He’s back from his fast-track journey around the world on Christmas Eve but he’s forgotten to deliver one of the presents…! The reindeers are exhausted – they won’t be able to make the return journey. There’s only one Father Christmas’s loyal – but very junior – dog, Kado. Can Kado help Father Christmas deliver the very last present?

So begins a magical journey as one young Labrador takes flight on a makeshift bicycle sleigh – through continents and past polar bears, into oceans and over African plains – to find the present’s rightful recipient. Along the way, he’ll discover the beauty and fragility of the natural world and be faced with the BIGGEST surprise of all when he finally finds out what’s inside the Very Last Christmas Present…*

A magical, heartwarming and unforgettable Christmas story with a powerful environmental message at its heart. Get ready to fall in love with this instant classic…

Genres: Christmas, Childrens

250 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2025

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, The Very Last Christmas Present, by Adam Baron, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Kado Father Christmas dog, has to save Christmas, Father Christmas has forgotten to deliver a Christmas present for a child. Kado has to save Christmas for the poor child. Can a dog save Christmas? This was a cute Christmas story, with an unexpected ending!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Christmas book with a twist.
Wow I must say there is lots going on in this children’s Christmas book!
As well as the wonder of Christmas and the need to deliver a missed present, there is concern for the environment, family and friend relationships.

Initially I thought this was just a cute Christmas tale, Father Christmas (or Joulo as he is referred to in this story) realises there is a present left in his sleigh when he returns home on Christmas morning, and he must deliver it! With tired reindeer and a broken sleigh, he enlists the help of young dog Kado and an old bike-sleigh to take the missed gift. What follows is a journey, not just to deliver the gift, but to also see the world and discover the problems of the planet, before delivering the gift.

There are many layers to this book, younger children may well over look these but they would appeal to older children. There’s a couple of twists dropped in at the end, which will get older children considering what they have read and how everything falls into place.

I really enjoyed the idea of this book and love books trying to raise awareness, but I think some might find it a bit deep for the type of book you expect it to be.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Very Last Christmas Present follows a festive adventure that gently nudges readers to think about the impact of waste and overconsumption. As the characters try to deliver a lost gift, they discover how plastic waste is polluting our oceans and learn about other ecological effects that are worrying and need addressing. Adam Baron blends humour with a clear message about caring for the planet and valuing simple, meaningful gifts. The story is touching and eye opening with a surprise ending that brings all the feels.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's trying too hard to educate children about the environment by just shoving it up their noses.
Worst: the book mentions a FEMALE silverback gorilla. We even get a Silverback infant o.O
A Silverback gorilla is a mature, dominant adult male gorilla...

But: major twist at the end, we did NOT see (sic!) that coming and had to reread some passages to make sure there wasn't a wrong description. I guess you don't question things you're so used to be able to do...

for that, 1 star upgrade to 3 in total

[Katy Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Syrupy but sweet Christmas tale of animals and environment.

We've loved Adan Baron's picture books, wanted to try his first novel for children. I must admit, as an adult, I felt a little puzzled at times and wondered where things were going. A few things didn't make sense, though the author did mostly end up answering my questions as the book progressed.

It's December 25th, the early hours and Father Christmas's dogs (here Santa is called Joulu) are awaiting his return. When he does, it's with the exhausted reindeer as usual, a broken sleigh... and with one present undelivered!! With young puppy Kado and an old sleigh the only possible means of delivering this one last present before it's too late, Kado takes on the mission and gets more than he bargained for as a surprisingly eco-conscious Joulu also takes him round the world to see its problems before making his way to the very much awake and very much upset recipient.

Lucy realises she has something missing but is trying to make the most of her Christmas with her family. The two stories will eventually meet and there's a couple of really nice twists (though - tiny spoiler - the actual 'forgotten' present doesn't make sense if you think about it! Saying no more).

I found this sweet but also a bit twee as it pushes an unusual emphasis on planet protection into a Christmas story. I'm not saying it shouldn't be there, or that it isn't a good idea. It was unexpected and unlike Arthur Christmas, which had the same story at heart of one last gift to be delivered, there didn't seem to be a rush to get it there, so the pace was very different and it certainly puzzled me as I read.

Given the heart-warming ending especially, this grew on me and could definitely do well as a perennial seasonal read.

For ages 7 and above.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

[Annelies leest · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanneer de Kerstman na een nacht vol cadeautjes bezorgen vermoeid thuiskomt, laat zijn slee het afweten en crasht hij in een enorme berg sneeuw. Na het inspecteren van de slee ontdekken ze in het kleinste hoekje een vergeten cadeau. Onmiddellijk is het alle hens aan dek, want een kind zonder kerstcadeau dat kan natuurlijk niet. Hoe moet dat nu verder? De slee is kapot en de rendieren zijn moe…Gelukkig is er Lahja, de kleine labrador van de Kerstman, die het allerlaatste kerstcadeau kan bezorgen. Samen vliegen ze de hele wereld over op zoek naar het kind aan wie het cadeau toebehoort. Zullen ze het tijdig vinden? Of is Kerstmis voorgoed verloren?

Ik werd bij het ontvangen van het boek instant verliefd op de cover. Warm, jolig en echt kerstig, net zoals het verhaal zelf.

Het allerlaatste kerstcadeau wordt afwisselend verteld vanuit het perspectief van Lahja de labrador en vanuit Lucia, het meisje wiens kerstcadeau vergeten werd. Beide sluiten mooi bij elkaar aan en zijn twee heel erg warme, kerstige personages.

Maar in Het allerlaatste kerstcadeau gaat het over zoveel meer dan kerst. De klimaatcrisis wordt meermaals aangehaald en op een duidelijke, heldere manier (die ook voor kinderen te begrijpen is) besproken. Het is niet zo dat het verhaal een heus klimaatbetoog is, maar je kan er ook niet omheen. Adam Baron wist dit wel netjes in het verhaal te verweven, waardoor het toch nog steeds lekker blijft weg lezen.

Ondanks het kerstverhaal hier best wel wat anders loopt dan anders (denk labrador, motor, Tomties…) draagt het wel de echte warme kerstsfeer met zich mee. Met de twee hoofdpersonages, een labradorpup en een lief meisje kan het haast ook niet anders.

Het allerlaatste kerstcadeau is een magisch verhaal over het bij elkaar brengen van mensen, geloven in magie, hoop en liefde.

[Emma Rizi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Very Last Christmas Present by Adam Baron — Due out 23/10/25, Ages 7+.

This is a heart-warming Christmas tale for the modern world, full of warmth, wonder, and just the right amount of festive magic. When an avalanche causes Santa to crash-land and damage his sleigh, he discovers that one final present hasn’t been delivered. There’s only one choice left: Kado, his dog barely out of puphood, must step in to help. The only problem? He’s never flown before!

The story unfolds through two perspectives: Kado’s brave and magical journey, and Lucy’s quiet faith that Santa hasn’t forgotten her, even as she worries what it means if he has. Their two worlds intertwine beautifully in a story that celebrates courage, kindness, and belief, with two plot twists that brought genuine tears of joy at the perfect ending.

Adam Baron weaves in Lucy’s passion for the environment with care and relevance, creating a story that carries a hopeful, empowering message: that even small actions, especially from children, can make a big difference. This is one to share, to gift, and to treasure year after year.

[FaithfulReviewer (Jacqueline) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to HarperCollins UK, Children's | HarperCollins Children’s Books, the author and NetGalley for a DRC in return for an honest review. I also listened to the audiobook read by Niamh Longford and Sam Newton.

I loved reading and listening to this festive children's tale, The story itself gives a timely environmental message and there is a great twist, but I'm slightly perplexed by a couple of aspects. Firstly, why has Adam Baron chose to refer to Santa as 'Joulu' - the Finnish word for Christmas - when he has no connection to Finland! Also for some reason Santa is depicted as Human AND all the Reindeer have been renamed bar one - and no it's not Rudolph, it's Vixen - totally bizarre!

The colourful art work on the cover and the black & white illustrations by Benji Davies are beautiful.

This book was read by two narrators - Niamh Longford and Sam Newton. While Longford's narration was well paced, clear and engaging, I found the voice Newton used to be oddly patronising - rather like a 1970s TV presenter talking down to children.

#TheVeryLastChristmasPresent #NetGalley

[Renee van Eijk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ik moest even wennen aan het perspectief van de hond en ik werd even geïrriteerd bij het bewustzijn over de staat van de wereld stuk, ik vind echt niet dat dit bij kinderen hoort te liggen, zij moeten onbezorgd groot kunnen worden. Maar dit waren kleine dingetjes toen het plot eenmaal duidelijk werd. Tranen in m’n ogen en wow wat mooi!

[Milena Ivanova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Адам Барън сигурно е разплакал хиляди деца и техните родители. Признавам, че и мен просълзява неколкократно и при всеки прочит.

[LudmilaM · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars. Environmentally focused festive story. Ending had a feature that was not expected, but all the more poignant and heartwarming.

[Sofie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een op en top kerstverhaal voor de jonge lezers onder ons (vooral dus voor de kinderen van de boekstagrammers hier 🤪). Het boek gaat gepaard met een aantal mooie illustraties en er wordt vaak gespeeld met het lettertype (hoofdletters, grote letters, letters onder elkaar geschreven, enz…). Er wordt heel veel ingezet op het thema milieu en vervuiling.

Je krijgt zowel de belevenissen van Lahja (de jonge labrador) als van Lucia (jong kind) te lezen. Deze laatste is ongeduldig op haar vergeten cadeau aan het wachten maar krijgt op het einde van het verhaal een grote verrassing. Het is zeker een leuk boek voor jonge lezers en zelfs voor volwassenen zoals ik was het een leuke ervaring.