Review: A City Full of Santas

By Joanna Ho

New York: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2025. Picture Book.

In this holiday picture book, a little girl is trying desperately to meet Santa Claus. She often will stay up late on Christmas Eve, only to fall asleep. This year, her Mama takes her on a journey to the city to see Santa and make her dreams come true. But there are so many Santas around! The girl knows that the real Santa “smells like peppermint and laughs like the sun clapping its hands.” When they don’t find Santa in the city, the girl goes home and is even more determined to stay awake.

This is a charming story about one girl’s determination. Also, in the illustrations there is a fun clue for grown ups, that showcases just how special the girl’s Mama is. A charming tale to read this upcoming holiday season.

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