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Rating: 
Summary: ... Ho Ho Ho! ...
Review: As a tot, my introduction to Santa Claus was through Clement Clarke Moore's enduring and marvelous poem 'A Visit from Saint Nicholas.' Here, Santa is a being of great mystery and wonder: he is an elf; he drives a miniature sleigh pulled by tiny reindeer; he smokes a pipe; he slips down the chimney; he carries a pack filled with toys. I have fond childhood memories of snuggling up with my brothers and sisters on a wintery eve as Mother brought the poem to life.'Jolly Old Santa Claus' is another tale indeed. Here, Santa is the supervisor in charge of elfin productivity. Cookies are baked by the hundreds; (turn the page) trees are harvested by the hundreds; (turn the page) glass ornaments are blown by the hundreds; (turn the page) toys are made by the hundreds. Jolly Old Santa Claus is a middle class supervisor with lots and lots of job duties and responsibilities. Sadly, there is little mystery or wonder surrounding this Santa or his circle. He's of normal adult human height and proportions, he has an office and a workshop, and - most distressing of all - he has a wife. (The presence of a 'Mrs. Claus' in any tale of Santa distastefully suggests a sex life for the great elf.) The best illustrations in my opinion are the dustjacket cover, the half-title, the frontispiece, and the one in which Santa is harvesting trees. I recall Santa smoking a pipe but in this edition Santa is a non-smoker. (My spies tell me Santa's pipe has been edited out of this edition to make the jolly old elf acceptable for modern moms and dads. However, in the illustration of Santa in his office, a tobacco jar and an ashtray were missed by the censor and remain temptingly within Santa's reach.) No tot needs to have his or her imaginative life scarred by meeting Santa for the first time in this book. 'Jolly Old Santa Claus' is pedestrian and a book best reserved for the older child whose imaginative life has been able to grasp adult realities like offices, assembly lines, and spouses. Moore's classic is full of wonder, unforgettable, and the still very best choice for bringing the tyke and Santa together.
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Summary: I thought I was going nuts!!
Review: I had to come see the reviews for this book. I got this book last year for Christmas from my mother. It was my oldest sons first Christmas, and it was thrilling to see they reprinted this book. I remember reading the original, a book that was owned by a Great Aunt who lent it to us ,and was returned when she has grandchildren. I remember the text being on the back, and if I am not wrong, wasn't there a picture of the elves sleeping?? The pictures seem cut up. It is wonderful to see that this book remains in some form today, however, I wish they just reprinted the original as was. It was a beautiful book and it now butchered.
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Summary: Jolly Old Santa Claus
Review: I have searched high and low for this favorite childhood Christmas book that my parents read to me and my siblings. Unfortunately, the newest edition is nothing like the soft covered book my mother still holds close to her heart. The original book has such magical pictures that really do allow you to "believe". I remember being read to and then turning the pages to this image that still is imbedded in my mind. I hope they will come out with the first edition of this book, for the newest "collectors edition" is not worth collecting at all.
Rating: 
Summary: Great pictures, great graphics, great story, great book!
Review: I was given the 1st edition when I was a child and was captivated by the wonderful illustrations. The book became part of Christmas for our family, and to me what the real Santa Clause and the North Pole were truly like. Since the book was given to me; upon starting my own family, my mother packed the book along with several of my Christmas ornaments to start my own traditions. Now that I have the only copy, I wanted to get copies for both my brother and parents so they would not miss out on Christmas. I was so dissapointed with the 2nd eddition that i did not buy it for them. I will just have to share my copy with them. Shame on who ever did this to such a wonderful book, they have my pity. "Jolly Old Santa Clause" has been lost and should not be published in this format.
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Summary: A book to make a tradition of reading every Christmas
Review: Like the other reviewers, I was extremely excited when I saw this book in my local book store. I agree that while the pictures are beautiful, the original's were breathtaking. I bought this book to share a little bit of my childhood with my daughter. But I will continue to search used bookstores for a 1st edition copy. The Publisher should definitely consider releasing the original version again. What a great last-Christmas-of-the-20th-century present.
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Summary: I remember this from when I was little.
Review: My grandmother kept the soft copy my mom had as a little girl and only had it out on Christmas. I would sit for hours staring at the artwork oblivious to the actual story. After my grandmother passed away we lost the book. I found this newer copy a few years ago and at first was very excited until I got a good look at it. The artwork is the same except the original version had full page illustrations without all the extra colored text and the black lines outlining ragged edges of the artwork. I feel this ruins the book for those of us who remember the original copy. Can't someone simply reprint the original version without all the updated goo-gunk??? I'd buy a few copies of the orginal re-print in a heartbeat!!
Rating:
Summary: I remember this from when I was little.
Review: My grandmother kept the soft copy my mom had as a little girl and only had it out on Christmas. I would sit for hours staring at the artwork oblivious to the actual story. After my grandmother passed away we lost the book. I found this newer copy a few years ago and at first was very excited until I got a good look at it. The artwork is the same except the original version had full page illustrations without all the extra colored text and the black lines outlining ragged edges of the artwork. I feel this ruins the book for those of us who remember the original copy. Can't someone simply reprint the original version without all the updated goo-gunk??? I'd buy a few copies of the orginal re-print in a heartbeat!!
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Summary: Great pictures but they ruined it!
Review: The original edition of this book was better! It was made to be read with the children sitting in front of you. The text (which is great) was on the back & the pictures were 2 full pages in front for the kids to study while you read. This one has the pictures shrunk so small you can't even start to appreciate the detail & great work & the text often takes up more space than the pictures. It's still worth having if you don't have an earlier edition because these are the best paintings of santa ever. Whoever did this though should be ashamed & republish the original which is the greatest book on santa ever written.
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Summary: The pictures are good but the original was much better!
Review: The pictures in this book are amazing but this edition is a disapointment. The original editions have 2 full pages for each picture with the text on the back so it can be read to children sitting in front of you, they look at the pictures & you read. This one has the pictures shrunk to an obscenely small size with the text often taking up more of the page than the picture. Whoever did this one should be ashamed & republish the original!
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Summary: Sniveling "Political Correctness" at its worst
Review: This fine book has been ruined by senseless (and unacknowledged) mutilation of the original artwork: in nearly every image of the original, Santa is shown smoking a pipe, while this "politically correct" reissue airbrushes out the pipe without even having the decency to admit it. For simpering cowards and nattering nabobs only.
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