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Stephen Krensky
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How Santa Got His Job Paperback – Picture Book, October 1, 2002

by Stephen Krensky (Author), S.D. Schindler (Illustrator)
4.8 out of 5 stars 477 ratings
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Have you ever wondered what Santa did before he was Santa?
When Santa was young and needed a job, no one was looking for a man in a red suit to deliver gifts on Christmas. So Santa tried just about everything -- from a chimney sweep to a postman to a circus performer. But none of these worked out. It wasn't until he met a group of elves who helped him use all his special talents, that Santa was able to find his dream job.
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  1. Reading age
    5 - 8 years, from customers
  2. Print length
    32 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 3
  5. Lexile measure
    AD570L
  6. Dimensions
    10.5 x 0.2 x 8.38 inches
  7. Publisher
    Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
  8. Publication date
    October 1, 2002
  9. ISBN-10
    0689846681
  10. ISBN-13
    978-0689846687
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stephen Krensky is the author of more than a hundred books for children, including How Santa Got His Job (an ALA Notable Book) and Big Bad Wolves at School. He and his wife, Joan, live in Lexington, Massachusetts. You can visit him at StephenKrensky.com.

S. D. Schindler is the popular and versatile illustrator of many books for children, including Ursula K. Le Guin’s Catwings series; Skeleton Hiccups and Monster Mess!, both by Margery Cuyler; Big Pumpkin and the ALA Notable Children’s Book Don’t Fidget a Feather!, both by Erica Silverman; How Santa Got His Job by Stephen Krensky; and Johnny Appleseed by Rosemary and Stephen Vincent Benét. He lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His website is SDSchindlerBooks.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 1, 2002
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Reprint
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0689846681
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0689846687
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.8 ounces
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 5 - 8 years, from customers
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10.5 x 0.2 x 8.38 inches
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 3
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD570L
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 477 ratings

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Stephen Krensky

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
477 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a fun and beautiful story that kids enjoy, with cute illustrations and well-written text. They appreciate its educational value, with one customer noting it's excellent for teaching children, while another mentions it's particularly suitable for high school students.

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50 customers mention "Fun story"50 positive0 negative

Customers find this book to be a wonderful holiday story that kids really enjoy.

"Great story, my class loved it" Read more

"...This is one of my picks for this year. The book is really cool because it explains how Santa became Santa!..." Read more

"This is a very cute story I used to reinforce reading strategies in my classroom...." Read more

"Read this to my third grade class today, and they absolutely loved it. Such a fun way to explain how Santa got the ideas to do what he does...." Read more

16 customers mention "Educational value"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book educational and great for students, with one customer noting it's particularly suitable for high school students.

"Here's a great picture book for high school students. The story of Santa" shows us that what you do is who you are...." Read more

"...My students really loved this book. We were able to complete some cute writing assignments from this fun book." Read more

"Wonderful holiday book. Great for young believers!" Read more

"I am a school counselor and I have so much fun reading and discussing this book with kids!..." Read more

14 customers mention "Illustrations"14 positive0 negative

Customers like the illustrations in the book, describing them as cute and colorful.

"Such a cute book! My students loved it!" Read more

"...The pictures are great and the text is well written. I would recommend this book highly!" Read more

"I have mixed feelings because the illustrations are cute and I like the idea of the other jobs teaching him his skills...." Read more

"Bought it for my nephews for Christmas. Super cute book about Santa growing up, going through different jobs, and finally becoming Santa...." Read more

13 customers mention "Writing quality"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book good, with one customer noting it's well written and another mentioning it's a must-have for read-aloud time.

"...The pictures are great and the text is well written. I would recommend this book highly!" Read more

"...His prior jobs to help with being Santa! Great book!" Read more

"...I love the details of the writing as well as the illustrations. My students really loved this book...." Read more

"...Pull it out at Christmas and read it to everyone. You will find even the adults listening." Read more

A Wonka-esque Santa origin story
5 out of 5 stars
A Wonka-esque Santa origin story
This "new to me" (but initially published in 1998) book was one I picked up this week. Is it because I just saw Wonka in the theater (which I also very much enjoyed) that made this Santa origin story especially appealing to pick up? Well, I can't discount it, but there's no denying it was a great choice to add to my purchases. Basically, it's the story of how Santa bounces from one job (chimney sweep, postal carrier, all-night diner cook, zoo caretaker, and circus performer...), looking for just the right fit for his admittedly niche skillset. #Relateable, especially to me, an admittedly late "bloomer" in terms of career. And it explained a lot. (I, for one, have always thought Santa has a whiff of the ex-carni about him.) And it turns out that while polar bears are great swimmers (of course), it's altogether a different scenario when they are weighted down with a sleigh. It's a great reminder, especially at the end of another busy year, that every day, week, month, and more brings more and more opportunities for learning--about the world, and about ourselves. I read it to my family in the car and it was enjoyed by all. So, if you are looking for a fun (but logical) origin story for Santa to share with your family, this one is great. It also pairs well with Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen's How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Melissa
    5.0 out of 5 stars How Santa got his Job
    Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Great story, my class loved it
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  • Dixie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Christmas gifts
    Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I love this book! 1 bought 3 for my grandkids!
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  • Olivia Stabler
    5.0 out of 5 stars Answers the Question of How Santa Became Santa!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Every year I do a Christmas book sack for my kids where I wrap books and have them open them and read them as a family leading up to Christmas. This is one of my picks for this year. The book is really cool because it explains how Santa became Santa! It takes things we know about Santa, such as that he can go down chimneys and that he loves reindeer and explains how that came to be.

    The story starts out with Santa cleaning chimneys, but he gets fired because he never got dirty and no one believes he actually cleaned them. Then, he started working for the post office delivering packages, but people got mad because he was delivering on weekends, so he had to find another job. Later on, he starts working at the zoo, but only pays attention to the reindeer and the other animals got jealous. He joins the circus and loved flying through the air and when he signed autographs for a bunch of elves, they invite him to their house in the North Pole and he learns they make toys and is excited to bring the toys to children all over the world.

    I was amazed at how the author explained things we know about Santa and I also liked that it makes children see that even though Santa had bad luck with jobs, he never gave up and finally found what he was good at. Overall, a really cute book for Christmas!
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Abby
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Such a cute book! My students loved it!
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  • Britni McCaughey
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great career exploration book
    Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I love using this book for career guidance in the classroom for elementary students!
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Cute Story!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This is a very cute story I used to reinforce reading strategies in my classroom. The only reason I did not give 5 stars is because the book arrived damaged. Some of the pages/cover were bent and torn.
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  • Mom of Two
    5.0 out of 5 stars My third graders loved it!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Read this to my third grade class today, and they absolutely loved it. Such a fun way to explain how Santa got the ideas to do what he does. The kids kept saying "oh, so that's why..." as I read. The pictures are great and the text is well written. I would recommend this book highly!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Fifth Grade Teacher
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved How Santa Got his Job
    Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    My first grader loved this story. I read it early in December and we used the story for a social studies lesson to fit in with jobs within our community. Instead of taking Santa's job, we applied to be North Pole elves. We filled out job applications, got fingerprinted and sent them off to "ELF CENTRAL" and waited to see if we got jobs. The day before Winter Break, a FED EX envelope arrived from the North Pole with acceptance letters along with new elf names for each applicant. The story was a fun springboard for a lot of Christmas activities.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • juniegetz
    5.0 out of 5 stars As described**
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 22, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Lovely book
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  • akd4043
    5.0 out of 5 stars Kids love the book
    Reviewed in Canada on August 21, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Lots of literacy activities come out of this book.
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  • Mike
    5.0 out of 5 stars very good
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 27, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    As described, very good service
    Report
  • Petisa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on February 17, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    The grandkids love this book.
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  • Leanne
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on December 6, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Came quickly - cute read!
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