How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?

The conclusion--that the narrator has no idea how Santa does it but is glad he can--is a great kicker.

In the market for an understated Christmas classic? Behold! A Christmas miracle!

The frequent collaborators take the simple question of the title and dive right in: "How does he do it? How does it work?" Klassen imagines a pale-skinned Santa on a rooftop making adjustments: he cinches his belt at the waist while a reindeer holds his jacket. More fantastic ideas bubble forth. Perhaps Santa has to "stretch out like taffy and step in one leg at a time"? Maybe the chimney renders Santa's suit so dirty that he has to do laundry before going to the next house? And how is it that Santa charms all the dogs that would usually bark at strangers? Barnett sustains a wide-eyed, innocent tone throughout, and Klassen's Santa appears amiable in this smart Yuletide comedy that visualizes everything from Santa sitting in his skivvies in front of a clothes washer to Saint Nick arriving by post. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2—Barnett and Klassen confront one of the many mysteries of Christmas Eve. Beginning with an earnest "How does he do it? How does it work?" an anonymous narrator proceeds to pose a series of questions and hypotheses about the possibilities of Santa's descent into people's houses. Does Santa shrink or stretch, pour himself through the faucet, or find a key if there is no chimney? When inside, does he have to wash his sooty suit or use night vision goggles if the lights are off? One thing seems to be certain: "Santa goes up the chimney the same way he comes down." Barnett's tone perfectly captures a child's endless stream of imaginative conjectures, while Klassen's droll idiosyncratic graphite and ink illustrations bring out the humor full force. VERDICT Another hilarious hit that will be a welcome addition to the lighter side of Christmas collections.—Yelena Voysey

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Klassen's illustrations, done in graphite pencil and ink and finished digitally, fit the absurdist humor wonderfully. The conclusion—that the narrator has no idea how Santa does it but is glad he can—is a great kicker.
—Booklist (starred review)

A dynamic picture-book duo turn their attention to one of the great mysteries of our time. . . . Curiosity runs wild as Barnett ponders everything from Santa doing the laundry in children's basements to his ability to get along with every household dog he meets, while Klassen's there to bring each possibility to life. . . . For all that it leans heavily on absurdity, this book exhibits some serious heart.. . . . In the market for an understated Christmas classic? Behold! A Christmas miracle!
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) 

For anyone who has ever wondered how exactly Santa goes down the chimney, this new story combines Mac Barnett's deadpan humor with Jon Klassen's irresistible art to explore both absolutely ridiculous and entirely plausible answers to an age-old question.
—The Barnes & Noble Reads Blog