Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well. Today is Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I’m sharing my review of Sarah van Rijsewijk’s picture book, Santa and the Sled Dogs.

Santa and the Sled Dogs will be published on 18th November 2025 by North Country Books / Globe Pequot and is 32 pages long.

The Plot
In a snug mountain town, a family of four and their team of sled dogs get an unexpected knock on their door on a winter’s day by the one and only Santa himself. His reindeer are sick, and he cannot use them to pull his sleigh to deliver Christmas gifts. So he asks the family to lend him their sled dogs for this vital task.

Characters
Young Girl
We experience the story through the young girl, who is the elder of the two daughters in the family. She is curious, excited, but also a little concerned that she hasn’t ever seen the dogs fly.

Dad
The girl’s father is a skilled dog trainer, and he helps get them ready for their new Christmas Job, while bringing a sense of realism to what is essentially a story about magic.

Mom
The girl’s mother is a source of comfort and safety for her, and helps to fuel and keep alive her belief in magic.

Writing Style
I loved the nostalgic feel of this book. Van Rijsewijk’s text reads like a fireside storytelling: it has clear lines, a gentle rhythm, and short, confident sentences that suit read-alouds for youngsters. It really transported me back to my own childhood and the excitement and belief in the magic of Christmas.

Illustrations
The illustrations by Hetty Easter are what offer much of the nostalgic feel. The images have a beautiful hand-drawn look and are full of warm, cosy colours. The wintry outdoor scenes were my favourite to look at. The story is sweet, but the illustrations look truly magical.

Final Thoughts
Overall, the book is a warm Christmas tale that swaps the usual Christmas story spectacle for sincerity, tinged with just the right amount of magic. It’s an easy recommendation for kids who enjoy reading at bedtime or even for parents who read to them.

That said, this book may be a little too tame for those kids who enjoy a bit more action in their stories.

I enjoyed this book, and I know it’s the sort of thing the kids in our family would have liked before they aged out of the target demographic, which I’d say is ages 4-8.

I’m giving Santa and the Sled Dogs a 9/10.

Have you read this one? What did you think?

Thank you, as ever, for reading my review.

Until next time,

George

© 2025 GLT

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