That night, Sam dreams that Santa is sad because no one ever gives him a gift. He decides to change that and begins saving money to buy Santa a gift. Sam writes a letter to Santa, asking him to stop by on Christmas Eve to pick up his gift.
When Santa receives Sam's letter, he's so pleased that he plans a special surprise for Sam. However, Sam has a problem. He doesn't know what to buy for Santa. Despite going shopping for a gift, he still has no gift for Santa on Christmas Eve. When Santa arrives, Sam explains the situation and Santa responds, "I don't need a present. Your kind thought was quite enough." Instead, Santa Claus gives Sam an unforgettable gift by taking Sam with him to deliver gifts around the world, ending with a visit to Santa's workshop.
Pop-up scenes include Sam in his bedroom writing to Santa, Sam looking into store windows for gift ideas, Santa and his sleigh outside Sam's house, and Santa's workshop. Unlike many of the pop-ups we see today, the pop-ups in A Present for Santa Claus are not abstract, nor are they complicated examples of paper engineering. Instead, they are perfect for young children. The picture book illustrations children are used to seeing suddenly come to life in 3D when they turn the page. Its design, plus its message of thoughtfulness, make A Present for Santa Claus a book I recommend for 3- to 6-year-olds. (Candlewick Press, 2008. ISBN: 9780763638580)
