How Will Santa Find Us
on Goodreads (5)
What’s inside...
When their family loses their home, a little girl and her younger brother are left with nowhere to stay for Christmas. As they move from place to place, their parents distract them by taking them on a journey through their imaginations. Everywhere they visit becomes an exciting new world. They climb mountains on a friend's couch. They become ghosts in a hotel lobby. They go on safari while sleeping in their car. But with all this moving around, where will they end up on Christmas Eve? And most importantly, how will Santa find them? With artwork from some of Ireland's best-loved illustrators and all proceeds going to support Focus Ireland.
Age
4-8
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think it feels like to not have a home during Christmas?
How do you think the different people and places helped the family in the story?
Why is it important to help others, especially during special holidays like Christmas?
How do you think the story would change if Santa couldn’t find the children?
What are some ways we can help people in our community who might not have a home?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start by asking your child how they felt about the story, to gauge their emotional reaction and understanding.
Encourage your child to put themselves in the shoes of the characters, fostering empathy and a deeper connection to the story's themes.
Discuss the importance of community support and kindness, highlighting how everyone in the book came together to help the family.
Connect the themes of the book to real-life situations or actions you and your family can take to help others in your community, making the conversation actionable and relevant.
Use the beautiful illustrations in the book as a starting point for discussion, asking your child what they notice and how the visuals enhance the story’s message.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and Compassion
Explanation: In the story, children encounter a family that needs to move frequently, highlighting how some families face different challenges. The compassion shown by the family offers a powerful model for empathy.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to recognize when someone else is in need and think about how they can help, whether it’s sharing a toy or offering a kind word. It encourages them to be more observant about the feelings of others in their environment.
Example Lesson: Resilience in the face of adversity
Explanation: The family's situation in the book constantly changes, yet they manage to keep their spirits up and maintain hope that Santa will find them. This demonstrates resilience and the importance of a positive outlook.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children understand that despite setbacks or changes, maintaining perseverance and a hopeful attitude is crucial. It can be applicable in scenarios like moving to a new school or dealing with changes at home.
Example Lesson: Importance of family and community support
Explanation: The book showcases how the family bands together during tough times, emphasizing the support system within a family unit. The community's role in supporting the family also highlights the significance of societal support.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the value of supporting family members and friends, and understand that seeking help from community resources is a strength, not a weakness. This can promote a sense of security and belonging.
Example Lesson: Creativity and problem-solving
Explanation: As the family tries to ensure Santa can find them despite not having a permanent home, it illustrates the use of creativity and problem-solving skills to overcome difficult situations.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to think creatively in their day-to-day challenges, whether it's figuring out how to fix a broken toy or finding a way to arrange their room. It reinforces that there are usually creative solutions to most problems.