Niklas Goodfellow is the last true Santa. He and his partners Matilda and Emmanuel (two plump angels) are stranded after crashing their caravan during a storm. Niklas also has an invisible reindeer named Twinklestar and a collection of seven very fine toy-making elves in Cornelia Funke’s Christmas story, When Santa fell to Earth.

“Terrified, Twinklestar reared up, broke his reins, and bolted down toward Earth. Niklas Goodfellow’s reindeerless caravan swayed from side to side like a boat on a churning sea. Then it toppled forward into the swirling clouds, Niklas tumbled out of bed, hitting his head on the leg of a chair, and rolled helter-skelter under a table”  

Ben is curious about the strange trailer and the man inside. It’s not long before he is actually sitting with Niklas, drinking hot chocolate and staring open-mouthed at the angels and elves flying around. Ben is totally convinced that Niklas is a true Santa, but he doesn’t understand the mystery about the barred door and what dangers abound for the spirit of Christmas. Gradually, Ben and his friend Charlotte are involved in a true adventure to save Niklas and the old-fashioned Yule.

Goblynch, the new leader of the Council of Yuleland, has a fine red suit, rosy cheeks and twinkling eyes, but behind this façade he is bent on destroying all the old, meaningful Christmas traditions. In its place he wants to make sure that Christmas is all about money that the parents will spend, and that he and his robot-like giant nutcrackers will have full control over all the spending.

The book provides some strange explanations for Santa lore.  For instance, there are hundreds of “real” Santas. They travel in gypsy caravans, not sleighs complete with toy workshops.  And, if a Santa ever removes his boots, he will turn into chocolate within 24 hours. It also answers questions like how does Santa get all those presents in his bag? How can he deliver everything in one night? How come we’ve never seen a flying reindeer?

“Ben darling”-his mother put her arm around his shoulders-”I don’t know where you found this Santa Claus, but he’s the most wonderful Santa I could ever imagine.” Ben Shrugged. “That’s because he’s a real Santa, Mom.” He paused. “And actually, he just fell to Earth.”

A great book for all ages and especially those children on the verge of no longer believing and illustrated with exquisite pencil drawings on every page by Paul Howard, which brilliantly complement the richness of Funke’s writing.

GENRE: Fantasy