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Vendor
Mohrbooks Literary Agency
Sebastian Ritscher
Original language
English
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SANTA IN THE CITY

Reggie Brown Tiffany D. Jackson

A little girl's belief in Santa is restored in this ode to the magic of Christmas.
It's two weeks before Christmas, and Deja is worried that Santa might not be able to visit her--after all, as a city kid, she doesn't have a chimney for him to come down and none of the parking spots on her block could fit a sleigh, let alone eight reindeer! But with a little help from her family, community, and Santa himself, Deja discovers that the Christmas spirit is alive and well in her city.

Key selling points
- Acclaimed novelist turned picture book writer: Tiffany D. Jackson is the recipient of the 2019 Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe Award for New Talent for Monday's Not Coming, and has published several other novels to much critical acclaim.
- Christmastime in the City: Stories of cozy Christmases are most often set in the country, but illustrator Reggie Jackson renders the city every bit as warm and wonder-filled as its bucolic counterparts.
- The power of community: This book pushes back against the idea that cities--and the people who live there--are cold and isolated. When Deja's faith in Santa falters, her mom, aunt, uncle, and even the owner of her corner bodega come together to make sure she believes just a little longer.
- Representation matters: Part of what shakes Deja's belief in Santa is that her city and community aren't reflected in media. This book remedies that by creating a new, more inclusive Santa Claus mythology. And when Deja does catch a peek of the big man himself, she discovers that he's Black like her.

Tiffany D. Jackson is the author of the Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe Award winner Monday's Not Coming, and numerous other YA novels. She lives in her hometown of Brooklyn, New York. This is her first picture book.
Reggie Brown is an artist and illustrator with a background in corporate graphic design. He lives in San Diego, California. This is his first picture book.
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Book

Published 2021-10-12 by Dial Books for Young Readers

Comments

Warm [and] imaginative... [a] reassuring book for any child who's ever worried about Santa's magic reaching them. Read more...

The magic of Christmas is alive in this modern city story. Author Tiffany D. Jackson and illustrator by Reggie Brown have created a fun Christmas story centered on the lived experience of those in the inner-city. Santa in the City is filled with holiday cheer and love. Deja serves as a wonderful role model, as she displays an inquisitive nature and determination. Readers will be in awe of the bright illustrations that were all created digitally, using Photoshop. This fun read for the family shows the importance of Christmas spirit, and that Santa cares about everyone. Read more...

HUFFPOST mentioned SANTA IN THE CITY in an article about Disney Parks featuring Black Santas! Read more...

Jackson... has created a delightful holiday story, especially for children who are beginning to question Santa's existence or who have wondered how Santa will find their apartment. Read more...

The representation in this work will win the hearts of many children looking to see themselves in Christmas stories. Jackson's picture-book debut is a winner for Santa skeptics and believers alike.

Lively digital illustrations portray a close-knit Black family and urban community in a story that will reassure kids with the same concerns as Deja's.

IMAGINATION SOUP included SANTA IN THE CITY in a roundup of the Best List of Children's Christmas Books!: "When Deja is worried that Santa isn't real, not to mention he's worried that he couldn't get into their apartment building, Mommy helps Deja see how the Christmas magic works. Santa has a magic key that opens up all the apartments in the world, he can use the roof to land, and the Christmas lights in the neighborhood guide the way. In fact, Mommy has answers for all Deja's questions. And she discovers that Santa is real after all." Read more...

THE TUTU TEACHER (154K followers) featured SANTA IN THE CITY on Instagram with a rave review that has received over 1K likes! Hey book buddies! Before moving to NYC, I never really thought about how students who celebrate Christmas might talk about the process of Santa coming to visit. What chimney could he go down? Where are all the houses lit up for Christmas? And how can the reindeer navigate through congested city traffic?... Read more...

WRAL.com featured SANTA IN THE CITY in their Holiday Gift Guide!: "...with a little help from her family, community, and Santa himself, Deja discovers that the Christmas spirit is alive and well in her city." Read more...

HERE WEE READ featured SANTA IN THE CITY in a round up of children's books featuring a Black Santa! Read more...

WE NEED DIVERSE BOOKS posted a Q&A with Tiffany D. Jackson and discussed all things SANTA IN THE CITY! Read more...

BRIGHTLY featured SANTA IN THE CITY in a roundup of "13 Picture Books With Fresh Takes on Saint Nick!": "Christmas is only two weeks away, and Deja is starting to get worried. With no chimney in her city apartment, how can Santa possibly find her? And with so many children in the world, will he have time to visit her? Thankfully, Deja's family helps her to see the magic of Christmas all around her. This book is sure to be a family favorite for years to come." Read more...

A valuable addition to the holiday shelf. Read more...

BOOK RIOT included SANTA IN THE CITY in a roundup of New Christmas Books for Kids!: "Follow Deja, a city kid who is afraid that Santa won't be able to visit her during Christmas. She doesn't have a place for Santa to park his sled nor she does have a chimney for him to slide down. With a lot of Christmas spirit from her family, community, and Santa himself, she discovers the joy of the holidays." Read more...

BOOKPAGE featured SANTA IN THE CITY as one of two titles in an essay on the importance of coming together to care for others and share simple gifts. Read more...