Letters From Father Christmas

The care and affection Tolkien poured into these letters surprised me. I loved the presentation and the transcription in text. The relationship of Father Christmas and dear, funny North Polar Bear was sure to delight and amuse, but , for me, the wonderful painted images and beautiful calligraphy attest to the author's genius. The vintage of the letters evokes the cozy nostalgia a reader looks for in a Christmas narrative. This treasure of Tolkien's children is a generous gift to his vast audience.

I love the pictures of the original letters! It is so imaginative and fun! Anyone who love J. R. R. Tolkien will love this book, and anyone who would love some sweetness and innocence in the Christmas season (and anytime!)

Written and illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien, Letters From Father Christmas is a charming collection of personal letters that Tolkien send to his children under the guise of Father Christmas. While they begin rather simply, over the span of 20 years a fascinating tale is spun; with Father Christmas getting into crazy antics with his best friend North Pole Bear and fending off invasions from goblin armies. And the illustrations that are included are a lot of fun. The lengths to which Tolkien goes to to create this elaborate fantasy for his children are really amazing. Yet the letters tell an incomplete story, and are colored by outside influences that aren’t always clear. Still, Letters From Father Christmas is a remarkable book that’s full of the wonder and magic of the season.

I probably wouldn't recommend it. I didn't find the letters that interesting; but I'm sure they brought the recipient pleasure and might give some ideas for communication between modern dad's, granddad & children. It wasn't the joyful read I was looking for.

This book was suggested as our December read for our book club. I was amazed that I had never heard of it. Of course I have read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings multiple times. I was not surprised to find elements of those classic in Tolkien's letters he wrote to his children as Father Christmas. What treasures these are with their warmth, with and delightful illustrations. I purchased this on my Kindle but I would like a hard cover copy!

This would be a fun thing to do with your own children as they grow up. I found this story kind of hard to follow and rather insipid. But these stories were for his children. The pictures drawn I suppose were ok, but as I read this on my kindle I really could not see them too well.

I loved this book, the relationship of a father to his children, the insight into Christmas in England during the war and the heartbreaking ending as the last of his children grows too old to put out her stockings. Just sweet and lovely.

What a charming little tradition that Tolkien had of writing to his children and helping them experience the wonder of Christmas. These stories are quite adorable and add a touch of whimsy to an already very whimsical holiday. Great stories to share with family.

ALL OF TOLKIEN'S WORKS ARE UNIQUELY CREATIVE. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS TO ANYONE WHO IS A CHILD AT HEART OR ANYONE LOOKING TO REESTABLISH THEIR LINK WITH THE WIDE EYED EXPECTATIONS OF CHILDHOOD. DID YOU KNOW THAT JRR TOLKIEN BROUGHT T.S. LEWIS TO OUR SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST? AN EARLY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL, AMEN.

It is the most unexpected story. Mr Tolkien writing as Father Christmas to his children. The little vingettes ( Polar bear and gnomes) are wonderful but you can also see his children grow until the last farewell letter. It made me sad for the book to end. It's a lovely edition to my Christmas traditions.

I wanted to love this book. I read many reviews before I purchased. The book is good but not great in my opinion. It's a series of letters from Santa (and his side kick Polar Bear) to the author's children. Don't get me wrong, it's cute. The Polar Bear is often getting into mischief which my children found humorous. I guess I just expected more from this author. It wasn't an engaging story. It is just simply a collection of letters that the author actually wrote to his children each year. Endearing, yes. But not sure I would have purchased it had I known how simplistic it would be.

Book Review

I found ‘Letters from Father Christmas’ by J.R.R. Tolkien, a delightful read and the pictures of the letters themselves, and other drawings, added an interesting aspect to the book. This book is a great addition to your library, and a must-have coffee table read in the weeks before Christmas.
‘Letters From Father Christmas’ is a collection of the Letters that J.R.R. Tolkien’s children received from Father Christmas for over twenty years; between 1920 and 1943. Each letter is reprinted along with their accompanying hand-drawn illustrations and North Pole post markings.
J.R.R. Tolkien, best known for his epic fantasy ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Hobbit” was also the proud dad of four children. Over the course of many years, he wrote and illustrated detailed, whimsical letters from Father Christmas, populated with a clumsy polar bear, elves and goblins.
As his children grew older, Tolkien explained to them, as best he could, about poverty and being hungry with no food in sight. Later on, he, as Father Christmas wrote to them about war and the hard times it brought to many families.
In ‘Letters from Father Christmas’, J.R.R. Tolkien brought love to his children, but also the innocence and sweetness that comes with the Christmas Season to all.

[...]

Life in the Tolkien family in the 1920s and 1930s had its ups and downs just like any family, but the Tolkien children had one major benefit at least, a father who could tell the most thrilling tales imaginable. At Christmas the pleasure increased one hundred fold, for the Tolkiens were the only family around who actually received real letters from Father Christmas! Waiting on the mantelpiece, or handed in by the postman with a special North Pole stamp, or arriving in any number of other delightful ways, each Christmas news from the North Pole arrived and was read aloud by the children's father, J.R.R. Tolkien himself. Even better, the letters were always profusely illustrated by Father Christmas himself.

The stories told in these letters are always exciting. Father Christmas and his friend the Polar Bear had to deal with all sorts of exigencies like goblin invasions each year as they worked to get ready for their annual Christmas journey. Each letter was handwritten in a suitably shaky script by Father Christmas, and each letter included delightful color drawings illustrating the adventures it contained.

Children will love these letters because the fantasy, like everything Tolkien created, is real and engrossing. Adults will love the letters too, both for the memories of their own youthful Christmases, but also for the glimpses of Tolkien's "other" fantasies about Middle earth that may be spotted here and there in the letters.

Most children write letters TO Santa; few get letters FROM Santa (or Father Christmas, as British children call him.) The Tolkein children were lucky; their father was one of the top writers of the 20th C. and a fine--if totally untrained--artist.

These letters are little gems. As the years go on and the Tolkein children got older and more able to follow a complicated story, the letters get more 'literary.' Also, if you will look at the dates, as the situation in Europe heated up, so did Father Christmas' troubles with the Goblins. Children listen to the radio, too, and none of the Tolkein children could have been accused of stupidity; they knew, at some level, that something Very Bad was brewing, and I am sure that seeing that Father Christmas could deal with almost any crisis was comforting to them.

As for the illustrations, JRRT had a wonderful sense of color and line. He was very good at drawing stylized landscapes and interiors. Who wouldn't want someplace like Cliff House? He was less successful at drawing people and animals, probably because he knew very little about anatomy. Still, the portrait of Father Christmas wrapping a package is very fine; his features look somewhat Asiatic. I don't know if it is because JRRT had trouble drawing European round eyes, or if the Tolkein children were old enough to have seen pictures of Lapps and Eskimos and would have felt that such features would be appropriate to a man who lived at the North Pole. Also, the picture of the Polar Bear battling the Goblins to save the Good Children's presents was full of movement and spirit enough that one didn't mind the questionable anatomy; the same could be said of the illustration of the accidental flooding of the English Deliveries room.

If you have children in your life, get a copy. Younger children will love to have these read to them, while older ones will love reading them themselves.

J.R.R. Tolkien was best known for his epic fantasy "Lord of the Rings" and his studies in myth and language. But Tolkien was also the proud dad of four kids -- and he didn't just read "Hobbit" to them at bedtime. Over the course of many years, he wrote and illustrated detailed, whimsical letters from Father Christmas, populated with a clumsy polar bear, elves and goblins.

In these letters, Father Christmas kept the Tolkien children updated with stories about the hijinks at the North Pole -- the slapsticky North Polar Bear and all the things he broke, firework explosions, the discovery of ancient caves full of old cave drawings, and battles with the goblins. (When Father Christmas couldn't write, his Elvish secretary filled in)

When reading these letters, it's hard to imagine any luckier kids in the Christmases of the '20s and '30s. After all, how many children gets detailed letters and pictures from Father Christmas -- complete with special stamps? Tolkien's love for his kids is evident in the care he took to create these letters, and the affection that comes from "Father Christmas" that is written in.

Tolkien's old-school style of writing is a bit formal and very correct, but he tosses in comments of exasperation, amusement, and in the last letter, a sort of sad resignation that children will grow up. Maybe it is because they were given to real children, not intended for publication, that the letters are only a little cutesy, and never cloying.

And of course, Tolkien's detailed, colorful, fantastical, intricate pictures are what make the letters come alive; you can imagine the Tolkien kids eagerly examining the pictures as well as the written words. They aren't terribly realistic -- Father Christmas never looks quite real -- but their detailed fantastical charm makes up for it, such as the murals on Father Christmas's walls, with suns, moons, stars and trees.

Tolkien also sprinkles the stories with things that his kids were probably intrigued by, like prehistoric cave paintings, fireworks, and a comic bear who causes all kinds of mayhem. And fans of Tolkien's fantasy works will probably enjoy checking out things like the invented Elf language (as written by the secretary Ilbereth) and goblin language. Tolkien includes a letter from the North Polar Bear in the latter language.

"Letters From Father Christmas" won't exactly make you believe in Santa Claus again, but it is one of the prettiest and most charming Christmas picture books out there. Definitely recommended -- and not just for Tolkien fans too.

J.R.R. Tolkien was best known for his epic fantasy "Lord of the Rings" and his studies in myth and language. But Tolkien was also the proud dad of four kids -- and he didn't just read "Hobbit" to them at bedtime. Over the course of many years, he wrote and illustrated detailed, whimsical letters from Father Christmas, populated with a clumsy polar bear, elves and goblins.

In these letters, Father Christmas kept the Tolkien children updated with stories about the hijinks at the North Pole -- the slapsticky North Polar Bear and all the things he broke, firework explosions, the discovery of ancient caves full of old cave drawings, and battles with the goblins. (When Father Christmas couldn't write, his Elvish secretary filled in)

When reading these letters, it's hard to imagine any luckier kids in the Christmases of the '20s and '30s. After all, how many children gets detailed letters and pictures from Father Christmas -- complete with special stamps? Tolkien's love for his kids is evident in the care he took to create these letters, and the affection that comes from "Father Christmas" that is written in.

Tolkien's old-school style of writing is a bit formal and very correct, but he tosses in comments of exasperation, amusement, and in the last letter, a sort of sad resignation that children will grow up. Maybe it is because they were given to real children, not intended for publication, that the letters are only a little cutesy, and never cloying.

And of course, Tolkien's detailed, colorful, fantastical, intricate pictures are what make the letters come alive; you can imagine the Tolkien kids eagerly examining the pictures as well as the written words. They aren't terribly realistic -- Father Christmas never looks quite real -- but their detailed fantastical charm makes up for it, such as the murals on Father Christmas's walls, with suns, moons, stars and trees.

Tolkien also sprinkles the stories with things that his kids were probably intrigued by, like prehistoric cave paintings, fireworks, and a comic bear who causes all kinds of mayhem. And fans of Tolkien's fantasy works will probably enjoy checking out things like the invented Elf language (as written by the secretary Ilbereth) and goblin language. Tolkien includes a letter from the North Polar Bear in the latter language.

"Letters From Father Christmas" won't exactly make you believe in Santa Claus again, but it is one of the prettiest and most charming Christmas picture books out there. Definitely recommended -- and not just for Tolkien fans too.

Entertaining letters written by Tolkien for his children. Out of these type of activities grew his masterpiece - THE LORD OF THE RINGS. He wrote these stories for his children, whilst involved with the more serious work of his mythology. But the culmination of his children's fiction - THE HOBBIT, was so successful that it was published and Unwin wanted a sequel.
That said, these letters are good, and on the same quality as ROVERANDOM and FARMER GILES. Both of those are abundant in word play. These are fascinating, and good holiday stories. The chief complaint I have with these are they were not all published. As I understand it, some of the letters that are published are lacking the entire letter. However, the selection of 1925 to 1939, although for some reason it seems I read it continued on to 1945. That might be in error. The letter in 1920, only a note, is included in facsimile, but for some reason the letters of 1921 to 1924 are missing. A severe misfortune. However, if you are looking for light holiday fare (all of his children's fiction is light fare, with the possible exception of THE HOBBIT), this is the place for it. Afterward, read ROVERANDOM and FARMER GILES OF HAM. Narnia is better than both, of course.

The letters to his kids were delightful, humorous, and full of love. The vignettes were specifically to entertain his kids, so I didn't expect a story for a general audience. It was simply lovely.

I borrowed this book using Prime Reading. I read it on my Paperwhite at first, but the book really came alive when viewed in color in the Kindle app. A much better reading experience.

We bought the edition for our son (now in college) that has the hand-written facsimile leters, each in its own envelope, which is itself a facsimile, complete with Tolkien's hand-drawn illustrations and fake postage. For several years, we would read one of the letters each night before bed for the last few weeks before Christmas. While this edition is missing several of the letters that later editions include, we loved being able to pull the facsimiles out of their envelopes and read them as if they really were letters from Father Christmas. I don't think the other editions include the envelopes and letters. You don't need me to tell you what a great storyteller Tolkien was, but the stunning beauty of the physical book is what stands out for me. I can't wait to have grandchildren I can share it with! As for my son, it opened the door to Tolkien for him.

Man, I have never been so jealous of children. How amazing would it have been to get letters from Father Christmas each year? And such interesting ones no less. I wonder how long it took Tolkien to prepare each story, figuring out how Polar Bear nearly ruined Christmas that year. And he created another language just for these? WTF?

"Letters From Father Christmas" is stunningly beautiful. I have no words to describe how wonderful this book is. It is a great book for the Christmas season.
"Letters From Father Christmas" is a collection of the Letters that J.R.R. Tolkien's children received from Father Christmas (what they call Santa in England) during the over twenty years between 1920 and 1943.
Each letter is reprinted along with their accompanying illustrations. Father Christmas' letters are beautiful in their own right, but I am blown away by his illustrations. Some of this art deserves to be in a museum.
The letters each tell a story. The North Polar Bear (Santa's friend and assistant) figures prominently in these tales. Other characters (elves, goblins, the snow man--who is Father Christmas's gardener, and the man in the moon) add depth and humor to these tales from the North.
Some of these letters had my daughter rolling with laughter as we read them together. They are quite funny no matter what age you happen to be (the Polar Bear's commentaries had me laughing).
This is a great book. Readers cannot fail to be moved by these letters and stories. I give "Letters From Father Christmas" my highest recommendation.

J.R.R. Tolkien wrote his children a beautifully illustrated letter from Father Christmas each year. They are wonderful and witty adventures, with the holiday ever-threatened by the antics and errors of the bumbling North Polar Bear. Somehow F.C. and the elves always managed to stay up all night and make enough toys to save the day. The original edition of these letters, "The Father Christmas Letters," has been hard to find for some years. This newer edition was promising- each letter was enclosed in an envelope (much like the "Griffin and Sabine" books)- a nice touch, and expensive for the publisher to produce. Unfortunately, they did not go to the additional expense of actually including the full letters if they were longer than one page, as many are. Each year gets a single page, regardless of the actual length of the original letter. So many of the stories and adventures are cut off with no resolution. This edition is poorly slapped-together and unworthy of the artistry of the originals. Whomever is responsible should be ashamed.

This is a really lovely little book with Professor Tolkien's characteristically magical water color and ink illustrations and his sweet-natured, witty commentaries about life at the North Pole. Meet Father Christmas on his home turf and get to know his friend Great Polar Bear. Through a series of letters that Father Christmas sent to the Tolkien children we are treated to an insider's look at all the magical preparations for Christmas as well as a glimpse of what life is like for Father Christmas during the rest of the year. This book is a fun, hands on treat for the imagination with its realistic envelopes and letters that you can actually remove and read for yourself. These enchanting letters were, of course, delivered by Elf Messenger and if you are lucky perhaps you will have a copy of this book delivered to you or someone you love.

What sweet and beautiful letters from Santa to his young friends! Children will enjoy the whimsical nature of Santa's stories about his friends. Adults will reminisce at their own childhood, their children's' and their grandchildren's feeling that deep and delicious ache such memories carry with them. A perfect short read to get out each Christmas season!

. . .which will be a joy to hobbit-lads and lasses for many years to come. (Most "Big People" don't know that Father Christmas visits the Shire each Yule -- but he does!)
In this delightful book, the Master presents a series of illustrated letters sent from the North Pole each year to his children -- just in time for the holidays. In these letters, Father Christmas explains his difficulty in finding good help (thanks to the antics of the North Polar Bear); relates the true facts behind the great Northern Lights; and details frightening battles with the goblins who reside in caves under the Pole.
An excellent collection suitable for all ages (and guaranteed to instill in the youngest of hobbits a heathly desire to avoid goblins of all sorts!)

What brilliant imagination and unfathomable love Tolkien had for his children! These letters and drawings really make your heart swell with Christmas spirit and nostalgia you have for times gone by. A perfect read for the wee hours of this Christmas morn.

Here is a fun little story collecting the apparent letters Tolkien's children received from Father Christmas. It gets quite imaginative with each progressive letter and it's clear they were design to spark the interest of the children, allowing for them to really believe in Father Christmas.

I was looking forward to getting this book, and reading it to my children for Christmas. However, the actual edition was quite disappointing. For one thing, it is so small (3" x 3") that it is very hard to read, the pictures are hard to see. The reviews on the website implied that it was the full set of stories, with adventures about goblins. Indeed, the back of the book has an excerpt talking about goblins. However, the subset of letters in the actual book has none of the stories dealing with goblins! The stories that are there are nice, but often disjointed because they refer to previous years' events that are past, and there are too few stories, and the pictures are too small. If I had seen this book in a bookstore, I would not have bought it, but it was difficult to judge over the internet. I cannot recommend this book.

Have your kids outgrown or become bored with "The Night Before Christmas"? Try this instead! Fabulous book of Tolkien's personal letters to his own children in the guise of Father Christmas. You will love it even if you don't have any little ones in the house. I don't have any little ones and I loved it. The old fashioned drawings and language put you in a perfect nostalgic Christmas mood. Enjoy!

This must be one of the most joyful experiences I've had reading a book. The man's love for his children really shines through these charming letters. I had no idea how talented Tolkien was as an artist until seeing the little works that accompanied these letters. The stories are very creative and I found myself laughing as a read several of them. Do yourself a favor and read this (probably best done at Christmas time but anytime will do).

This was the perfect time of year to read this. I like how the letters are written to all of the children until the are grown. The goblins and elves made the letters interesting. Polar Bear is a neat character in this easy read.

This is a really lovely little book with Professor Tolkien's characteristically magical water color and ink illustrations and his sweet-natured, witty commentaries about life at the North Pole. Meet Father Christmas on his home turf and get to know his friend Great Polar Bear. Through a series of letters that Father Christmas sent to the Tolkien children we are treated to an insider's look at all the magical preparations for Christmas as well as a glimpse of what life is like for Father Christmas during the rest of the year. This book is a fun, hands on treat for the imagination with its realistic envelopes and letters that you can actually remove and read for yourself. These enchanting letters were, of course, delivered by Elf Messenger and if you are lucky perhaps you will have a copy of this book delivered to you or someone you love.

What sweet and beautiful letters from Santa to his young friends! Children will enjoy the whimsical nature of Santa's stories about his friends. Adults will reminisce at their own childhood, their children's' and their grandchildren's feeling that deep and delicious ache such memories carry with them. A perfect short read to get out each Christmas season!

. . .which will be a joy to hobbit-lads and lasses for many years to come. (Most "Big People" don't know that Father Christmas visits the Shire each Yule -- but he does!)
In this delightful book, the Master presents a series of illustrated letters sent from the North Pole each year to his children -- just in time for the holidays. In these letters, Father Christmas explains his difficulty in finding good help (thanks to the antics of the North Polar Bear); relates the true facts behind the great Northern Lights; and details frightening battles with the goblins who reside in caves under the Pole.
An excellent collection suitable for all ages (and guaranteed to instill in the youngest of hobbits a heathly desire to avoid goblins of all sorts!)

What brilliant imagination and unfathomable love Tolkien had for his children! These letters and drawings really make your heart swell with Christmas spirit and nostalgia you have for times gone by. A perfect read for the wee hours of this Christmas morn.

Here is a fun little story collecting the apparent letters Tolkien's children received from Father Christmas. It gets quite imaginative with each progressive letter and it's clear they were design to spark the interest of the children, allowing for them to really believe in Father Christmas.

I was looking forward to getting this book, and reading it to my children for Christmas. However, the actual edition was quite disappointing. For one thing, it is so small (3" x 3") that it is very hard to read, the pictures are hard to see. The reviews on the website implied that it was the full set of stories, with adventures about goblins. Indeed, the back of the book has an excerpt talking about goblins. However, the subset of letters in the actual book has none of the stories dealing with goblins! The stories that are there are nice, but often disjointed because they refer to previous years' events that are past, and there are too few stories, and the pictures are too small. If I had seen this book in a bookstore, I would not have bought it, but it was difficult to judge over the internet. I cannot recommend this book.

Have your kids outgrown or become bored with "The Night Before Christmas"? Try this instead! Fabulous book of Tolkien's personal letters to his own children in the guise of Father Christmas. You will love it even if you don't have any little ones in the house. I don't have any little ones and I loved it. The old fashioned drawings and language put you in a perfect nostalgic Christmas mood. Enjoy!

This must be one of the most joyful experiences I've had reading a book. The man's love for his children really shines through these charming letters. I had no idea how talented Tolkien was as an artist until seeing the little works that accompanied these letters. The stories are very creative and I found myself laughing as a read several of them. Do yourself a favor and read this (probably best done at Christmas time but anytime will do).

This was the perfect time of year to read this. I like how the letters are written to all of the children until the are grown. The goblins and elves made the letters interesting. Polar Bear is a neat character in this easy read.

Father Nicholas Christmas had many adventures with the Polar Bear (P B), the Cave Bear, goblins, and even the Man in the Moon. The trouble begins when the ice at the North Pole starts melting and Father Christmas moves to a dry cliff nearby. P B keeps going back until he smells goblins and tracks them to their caves. The Cave Bear joins P B, Father Christmas and the elves in an epic series of battles against the goblins, including an explosion great enough to knock the Man out of the Moon! More amusing than Jules Verne! (This is the first kindle book I've finished in less than a week!)

Father Christmas and Polar Bear's wonderful relationship with the Tolkien children, sharing their adventures to them through Christmas letters. A wonderful window into the heart of Tolkien and his love for his children. Great Christmas Eve reading!

Great insight into the person of J.R.R. Tolkein through these personal letters to his children. Very enjoyable stories.
Also interesting perspective on the times in which they were written.
Recommended

This is such a nice book for Christmas time, for both children and adults. The letters from Father Christmas, The Great Polar Bear and Elbereth the Elf to the Tolkein children contain poignant references to world events, such as the suffering felt during the Great Depression, or evacuation of children during World War II, and over the course of the correspondence we learn about how the children are growing into adults. Aside from how touching it is to see a father's way of relating to his children at a specific time in history, it is a rewarding book for Tolkein fans, as there are echoes of his more "official" works throughout. We're lucky to have this.

New editions of J.R.R. Tolkien classics return these fine presentations to new generations of readers. Tolkien's Letters From Father Christmas arrived too late for holiday recommendation but this deserves a place on bookshelves as a fine set of letters from 'Father Christmas' telling of life at the North Pole. This revised edition provides new material, including letters and pictures not seen in previous editions. Beautifully done.

Not at all what I expected. Reading the letters you understand how much time he spent writing and painting them, right down to the stamps. You can also feel the love he had for his children. An enjoyable experience.

I wish I had seen this book earlier when my children still believed. I would have loved to do the same and send Christmas notes back to them! These notes however are incredibly creative and I would have had a hard time living up to the quality of Tolkien's writing.
This book is a top Christmas book in my household. It and "Polar Express" are a favorite read after we open up the x-mas box and put up the tree.

With illustrations and wonderful letters sent from Father Christmas to the Tolkein children, this book will amaze and delight your family. It is excellent fun. Meet the North Polar Bear who is always in trouble, Ilbereth the Elf, goblins, the man in the moon, and Father Christmas himself. You'll laugh together -- it's magical.

I completely and totally enjoyed reading this collection of letters from Father Christmas to Tolkien' s children. The pictures are delightful and the stories wonderful. I was actually sad when it was over.

While I completely agree with the other reviewers about the beauty and complexity and subtlety of J.R.R. Tolkien's writing in this wonderful collection of his letters and drawings to his children, I tried using this with my middle school 6th graders. They didn't "get" it. Mostly, they thought the story was boring although they found the illustrations "interesting." I ended up buying several different editions of the book, including the one with the letters in envelopes, so that my students could have several different experiences with the text. They never enjoyed it, ever. Perhaps they are at too much of an in-between age and it just wouldn't have been "cool" to like it? As a lover of literature, I was disappointed. As a teacher, I have to wonder if I did something wrong in my presentation of the piece or if another group of students would have reacted differently...

As a collection of letters it introduced the children to the many facets of father Christmas and his many cohorts who assisted in maintaining the spirit of Christmas each year. The trials and tribulations shadowed the worldly situation as the years crept past.

I am a big Tolkien fan but this book was new to me. It was a thrill to find and a thrill to read. I started over 20 years ago giving a Christmas book to my mother in November. I search for something special every year and the names on my Christmas book list keep growing. (I like to think it's because of my inspired choices.) LETTERS FROM FATHER CHRISTMAS has zoomed to the top of the list. The title doesn't do it justice. It is a marvelous story about Father Christmas, elves, polar bears, goblins and adventure. It also combines a family story and reflects a marvelous and moving sense of place and time. Pure genius. Get it for everyone on your list.

I stumbled upon this book as it was free and I had some time over the Holiday. I loved each letter and drawings and the lovely and thoughtful notes Father Christmas sent each year. The Polar Bear is the best part! Sure to be read aloud in our house in the years to come!

A sweet, very clever idea that the John Ronald Reuel Tolkien fellow
came up with to amuse his daughter. Definitely an interesting book for
little kids, old funny looking spidery handwriting, and all. I suppose
they probably rerelease this every year, with how popular he became
recently.

I had hopes of interesting, humorous, and perhaps inspiring Christmas letters because of the famous name author here. Unfortunately, I found most of the letters to be as anyone might make up for their child's Christmas. We're this not a famous author, I don't think these letters would have made it further than a family album keepsake, for sentimental reasons only!! Disappointing at best!!