I was provided with a copy of Santa In A Snow Globe to facilitate this post, all opinions are my own. Affiliate links in this post will not cost you extra but I may receive a small commission.
Sometimes life throws us a curveball. For many of us, the majority of 2020 has been one long curveball. Author A. H. Edelman decided to create a book to help children understand that yes, Christmas is still happening but this year it is going to be a little different, because this year, Santa needs to be protected just like we protect our other loved ones.
QUESTION: Congratulations on Santa in a Snow Globe! Tell us about the book.
A.H. Edelman: Santa in a Snow Globe is the origin story of how and why St. Nick will be found sitting ‘in a place that is clear and quite round’ when families come to share their wish lists with him this holiday season. The book offers parents, caregivers, and children a starting point to talk about life’s new realities explained straightforwardly by Santa, complete with some timeless advice, beautiful and inclusive illustrations, and a big dose of Christmas cheer.
Q: What inspired you to write this book?
Edelman: I got the idea for the story after reading an article in the business section of The New York Times Sunday edition. The president of the International Brotherhood of the Real Bearded Santas was discussing how they would explain to kids this year that Santa would need to sit behind some type of barrier. Evidently, Santa is in a high-risk group: many have diabetes, are overweight, and elderly. I thought about how, in 2020, kids already couldn’t celebrate Easter, they sat out most of the summer and Halloween. They’re really going to want to see Santa for Christmas—or at least be assured he’s still coming.
Q: You are a parent of two girls. Why do you think it’s important for parents to talk openly with their kids about the news and world events?
Edelman: As a parent, I can understand people asking whether this is the type of news we want to share with our children. And my answer is, ‘Yes, we have to.’ Kids are perceptive, and with pretty much everyone wearing masks these days, it’s hard not to know something is up. They stayed close to home most of the summer; some are still not physically back in school. Some have had relatives or friends die from COVID-19. Many have seen or suffered from, smoke from numerous wildfires. It’s a tough world out there, but this wouldn’t be the first generation of kids to learn the hard lessons of needing to keep a stiff upper lip, thinking of others before themselves, being kind, and giving to those who have less.
Q: What do you want parents and kids to take with them after they read Santa in a Snow Globe?
Edelman: Many kids are already aware they are not living in a world solely consisting of sunshine and lollipops. But they also know—innately—that love is stronger than hate. Perhaps that is a lesson they can share with their parents. As the author of this book, I want to try to change the conversation that we as parents are having with our kids. I’ve learned that kids are resilient and that gives me hope.
Our grandparents, or great-grandparents, lived through the depression. Some of my family survived the Holocaust. Our parents were taught to duck and cover in the 1950s— do you remember bomb shelters? And Bambi’s mom died. In fact, most of Hans Christian Andersen’s and Grimms’ fairy tales are pretty, well, grim. We have to remember that it’s the older kids who are today leading the fight for gun control and climate change awareness—Greta Thunberg was 15 when she started to protest.
Q: You wrote this book with a lot of honesty. Why so?
Edelman: The book offers a starting point to talk and learn about life’s new realities. Some of the messages in the book may seem dark, but these are the times we’re living in. Kids are resilient and they deserve to learn about what’s going on, albeit by Santa. This generation of kids is not the first to have to deal with hardships and reality. Christmas is all about peace on earth and goodwill towards men and women. That’s a good message to send. All hope is not lost. Not as long as we are kind to each other and help those who need it most—and believe in science!
Q: You’re Jewish. Why did you write a Christmas book? Do you believe in Santa and the magic of Christmas?
Edelman: I’m an optimist. I’m also an adult Jewish woman who still believes in Santa Claus and happy endings. So, of course, Santa will show up on Christmas Eve, but before he does, he has a few words to say about what he sees happening in the world, how we—both parents and kids— can help change it and what matters most.
About the Author
A.H. Edelman is the author of “The Little Black Dress” and “Manless in Montclair”. And, yes, she still believes in Santa. She lives in Montclair, NJ. Santa in a Snow Globe is available now in hardcover, paperback and ebook at SantainaSnowGlobe.com, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and wherever books are sold.
I have a copy of Santa in A Snow Glove to give away to one lucky reader.
Giveaway open to Canadian Residents only and ends on Dec 15, 2020
find a list of other giveaways here
I love that this book teaches that the magic of Christmas doesn’t have to disappear during times like this.
I like that Santa In A Snow Globe is a positive look at something that children are dealing with currently.