Plus, receive recommendations and exclusive offers on all of your favorite books and authors from Simon & Schuster.
0:00 /
LIST PRICE $16.99
PRICE MAY VARY BY RETAILER
Get 20% off with code JULY20 plus free shipping on orders of $40 or more. Discount on physical products only. Terms apply.
Buy from Other Retailers
Table of Contents
About The Book
Residents of the North Pole compete to be named Santa Claus’s apprentice in this charming, festively illustrated chapter book told in a groundbreaking advent calendar format, with chapter-a-day reading making it a well-paced and anticipation-filled experience!
Santa Claus has a problem. There are too many kids on the nice list this year, and he’s worried he won’t be able to deliver all the presents by himself! The only solution is to recruit an apprentice for the first time in his long career—to be chosen through a carefully crafted competition. Soon, the North Pole is buzzing with excitement as contestants come forward to show they’ve got the Christmas spirit and know-how to help jolly old St. Nicholas himself.
There are elves who think they deserve a promotion, children from the village, a gnome who only says “groumf,” and even a stuffed monkey! As Christmas Eve draws closer and Santa Claus tasks the hopefuls with more and more creative tests, who will come out on top?
With this book’s unique advent calendar format, each of the twenty-four chapters is sealed by its own perforated enclosure that readers can gently tear open—by hand or with the help of a ruler—to read a chapter a day in the weeks leading to Christmas!
Santa Claus has a problem. There are too many kids on the nice list this year, and he’s worried he won’t be able to deliver all the presents by himself! The only solution is to recruit an apprentice for the first time in his long career—to be chosen through a carefully crafted competition. Soon, the North Pole is buzzing with excitement as contestants come forward to show they’ve got the Christmas spirit and know-how to help jolly old St. Nicholas himself.
There are elves who think they deserve a promotion, children from the village, a gnome who only says “groumf,” and even a stuffed monkey! As Christmas Eve draws closer and Santa Claus tasks the hopefuls with more and more creative tests, who will come out on top?
With this book’s unique advent calendar format, each of the twenty-four chapters is sealed by its own perforated enclosure that readers can gently tear open—by hand or with the help of a ruler—to read a chapter a day in the weeks leading to Christmas!
Excerpt
DECEMBER 1
SANTA NEEDS HELP!
Things were buzzing in Santa’s workshop! The elves were running all over the place, their arms loaded with toys.
“I’ve got a gaming console!”
“Has anybody seen my stuffed bear?”
“Watch out, scooter coming through!”
As he watched the hustle and bustle, Santa Claus felt very worried. “Why have all the children been so good this year? There are too many presents. I’ll never be able to deliver them all by myself!”
“Grandpa,” said Holly, his granddaughter. “Can I come with you on Christmas Eve? With me helping you, it’ll be easy!”
Santa Claus looked at her. What a cute little girl she was, with her red braids and freckles. “That’s very kind, my little gingerbread heart, but you need to spend Christmas Eve with your mom and dad. And don’t forget Grandma. They’ll be sad if you’re not with them.” Holly started to pout, but Santa paid no mind.
“I’m going to need someone to help me,” he said, “but who would want to do such a difficult job? Oh, I know, I’ll post an ad!”
He sat down at his computer and started to type.
Santa Claus seeks someone to help distribute presents. Candidates to report first thing tomorrow morning.
“There we go.”
And he let out a giant yawn, just like a hippopotamus.
“Today has really worn me out! I wonder who my assistant will be? Well, it’s time for bed now; we’ll see what tomorrow brings.”
SANTA NEEDS HELP!
Things were buzzing in Santa’s workshop! The elves were running all over the place, their arms loaded with toys.
“I’ve got a gaming console!”
“Has anybody seen my stuffed bear?”
“Watch out, scooter coming through!”
As he watched the hustle and bustle, Santa Claus felt very worried. “Why have all the children been so good this year? There are too many presents. I’ll never be able to deliver them all by myself!”
“Grandpa,” said Holly, his granddaughter. “Can I come with you on Christmas Eve? With me helping you, it’ll be easy!”
Santa Claus looked at her. What a cute little girl she was, with her red braids and freckles. “That’s very kind, my little gingerbread heart, but you need to spend Christmas Eve with your mom and dad. And don’t forget Grandma. They’ll be sad if you’re not with them.” Holly started to pout, but Santa paid no mind.
“I’m going to need someone to help me,” he said, “but who would want to do such a difficult job? Oh, I know, I’ll post an ad!”
He sat down at his computer and started to type.
Santa Claus seeks someone to help distribute presents. Candidates to report first thing tomorrow morning.
“There we go.”
And he let out a giant yawn, just like a hippopotamus.
“Today has really worn me out! I wonder who my assistant will be? Well, it’s time for bed now; we’ll see what tomorrow brings.”
About The Illustrator
Benedetta Capriotti was born in Italy, in a seaside town of the central region Marche. Since she was a child, she has had a great passion for drawing and art; in high school, she would draw in Greek and Latin books, so she chose to attend a professional school of fashion and technical drawing. Afterwards, she studied illustration at the International School of Comics in Rome. In addition to drawing, she likes reading, traveling, and animals, and she would like to live in a quiet house in the English countryside.
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (September 30, 2025)
- Length: 196 pages
- ISBN13: 9781665990639
- Grades: 1 - 4
- Ages: 6 - 9
Browse Related Books
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
-
Book Cover Image (jpg): The Christmas Contest
Trade Paperback 9781665990639
