When Nate loses a tooth on Christmas Eve in Michael Strobl’s children’s book SANTA CAMP, he worries that Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy won’t want to come to his house on the same night. Despite his concern, however, he wakes in the middle of the night to find the magical duo bickering in his living room. To settle their argument, they ask him who he thinks has the tougher job, and after weighing the options, Nate decides it’s Santa, who determines which kids are naughty or nice and carefully chooses the best gift for each good child. Both Santa and the Tooth Fairy are satisfied with his answer and offer him the opportunity of a lifetime: to attend a camp next summer where he will compete with seven other boys to determine who will become the next Santa Claus.

Nate is a decidedly naughty little boy, a trait Santa says would be helpful in the job, as he certainly knows what’s naughty and what’s nice. The pranks he pulls on his parents and sisters show his spunky attitude, and the conclusions he comes to about situations and other people show his unique and quirky point of view. He observes details others do not, which makes him a delightful protagonist to follow in his journey from a naughty boy to a wise young man. Minor characters act to challenge or guide Nate on his adventure. Standout personalities include the bully, Warren, whose leadership qualities make him a worthy competitor for the position of Santa. Some characters, in particular Nate’s sister, who is in the running to be the new Tooth Fairy, are too much in the background; her classic older sister behavior falls into the realm of stereotypical, and her role as Nate’s companion does not live up to its potential.

Character development rides alongside plot progression, as Nate gains excitement for attending Santa Camp and then navigates the various challenges presented to him there. Even with the tangible, hands-on action at Santa Camp, the book never loses its sense of magic. There’s always a new mystical discovery around the corner, from learning that Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy are husband and wife to revealing that Rudolph is a prima donna. An uproarious sense of humor is the defining feature of the book. Grammatical jokes about Santa being an “independent Claus,” among others, add goofiness. Other puns are both funny and contribute to the world-building, such as that the room where the boys practice chimney climbing is called the “Chimnasium.” Clever turns of phrase and twists on language bolster situational humor; for instance, “Motion sickness hits people in different ways. Aaron’s motion sickness hit Randy right in the shoes,” offers palpable imagery and hilarity at once.

With a truly unique premise, Michael Strobl’s SANTA CAMP is a laugh-out-loud funny middle grade novel that can be enjoyed at any time of the year.

~Aimee Jodoin  for IndieReader