Review: A Light Story with a Powerful Ending
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 12, 2012
Sutherland has a way of getting right to the heart of a child. He captures the excitement of waiting for Christmas to come perfectly. Reading it made me feel like a kid again. I must say, if one of my kids did any of things Tommy did during his year on the naughty list, I would blow my stack. And I think that's why it works. Because Tommy does outrageous things that kids wouldn't always do. That's what makes it funny.The beautiful artwork by Julie Hammond catches the eye and captures the heart. Even the more vibrant Christmas colors have been softened to provide a sweet feeling. The drawing of Tommy sticking his tongue out at the family dog when he's angry is my favorite. Her illustrations are the perfect blend of silly and sweet.My one challenge with the book is how it ends. Santa Ate My Gingerbread House is up to that point, a light, funny children's story. At the end, it takes a serious turn by delivering a deeply religious message. Nothing prepared me for that. Nothing indicated that's the direction the book would go. Though baby Jesus is mentioned at the beginning, that is the only indication faith plays any role in the book until the very end. Sutherland did a fine job of delivering that spiritual message for a child to understand and appreciate, but it catches the reader off guard. As a Christian, I liked the message, but I would have liked to see more inferences to faith throughout the book.That said, I truly enjoyed Santa Ate My Gingerbread House. I bet your child will, too.I received an e-copy of this book from the illustrator. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.