Santa Reverses the Believing Question in Fun Christmas Story to Start the Season

The question of who believes in Santa always comes up at this time of the year. The Christmas season is upon us and Maureen Fergus's The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold is a fun read aloud for children who wonder if there really is a Santa Claus. The question of belief is reversed when Santa decides that maybe there is no Harold, a little boy that he chooses to prove or disprove the existence of all things magical at Christmas. Santa decides that he does not believe in Harold anymore and Mrs. Claus is very disturbed by this new thinking. Santa decides that Harold's mom actually writes Harold's letter to Santa. He decides that someone else puts the cookies and milk out for him because Harold is not strong enough to pick up the milk carton. Santa has decided that Harold's parents are trying to trick Harold into believing in Santa. The word gets around that Santa has stopped believing in children! Even the reindeer have stopped believing in Harold. Santa decides that he must have proof that Harold is real and sets out to get the proof. Santa was unaware that Harold had also decided that he did not believe in Santa anymore and he wants proof that Santa really does exist. They both have a plan and young readers will be excited to find out what their plan is to prove that each one exists. Both Harold's and Santa's plan to prove each other's existence is a success and the magic of Christmas still exists.

Cale Atkinson contributes her talents as an illustrator with large colorful illustrations that fill each page with the excitement and colors of the season.

The Day Santa stopped Believing in Harold was published by Tundra Books, a division of Penguin/Random House. It is recommended for ages 4-8 and has an ISBN of 978-1-77049-824-2. This is a great book to start the holidays with.

There comes a time when children will question the existence of Santa. This fun read aloud is a great choice to get through this question with children. If you are reading this in your classroom, it is a good idea to ask parents for their ideas about their children's beliefs in Santa and to let them know that you are reading this book in your classroom. Parents might actually welcome the idea of using a fun book to address this question.

*Read The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold in a group story time session.

*Take a class poll of the children who do believe in Santa and those who do not.

*Have the children participate in a group writing and language session to give their reasons for believing or not believing in Santa. You will be surprised at some of the creative reasons for belief or disbelief. Write the children's ideas in two columns marked Belief and Disbelief.

*Address the question of what would happen if Santa stopped believing in children?

*Have the children participate in a group writing and language session to address the problems that might happen if Santa did stop believing in children at Christmas.

*Have the children participate in a group writing and language session to tell how they get ready for Santa at their home. Do they have any traditions that they do every year? Who visits Santa at malls or other venues?

*Who did Santa and Harold prove that each was actually real? Have the children participate in a creative writing activity to tell how they would prove that Santa is real.