Title: The Christmas Spryte Encounter: Picture with Santa
Author: Nanette Crighton
Publisher: Nanette Crighton
ISBN: 9781733281713
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book
Pages: 28
Reviewed by: Beth Adams

Read Book Review

Polished with a well-worded beat and rhyme, author Nanette Crighton has created a Christmas story laden with adorable humor, emotions and suspense; spiced with a bit of fantasy as well.

The Christmas Spryte Encounter: Picture with Santa is about a young boy who is fearful, or better said being just anxious, to go up to the Santa in the shopping mall and pose for a photo. “Santa smells like moth balls and he has onion breath. I wish you could get this: He scares me to death!” Nevertheless, his mom is determined to put his picture, now that he is 8 years old, alongside the previous photos of him with Santa.

During his nervousness, while waiting his turn on the line, his fancy catches a glimpse of a Spryte, fluttering her wings and landing on his hands, placed in front of his vision. Dawned in a Roman Centurion type of outfit, wearing a leather breastplate, helmet and sword, yet with a charming soft and gentle smile, the Spryte whispers words of confidence into his ear. “My card,” she said sweetly, “so you can be sure “That I’m just the right Spryte who makes sure you endure.” Ella, the Spryte, gives the young lad three pointers on how best to get through his stressful encounter with Santa. Those are: Take a Deep Breath; Shoot Cuffs; and Walk tall.

Interlaced with imaginative and original illustrations, the combination of pictures and poetry brings the storyline to life. The result is a synergistic combination of elements; in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The story, the prose, the pictures and the theme, all come together in this quintessential illustrated children’s book. Nanette Crighton has made the very challenging task of creating an epic quality children’s book look easy.

The Christmas Spryte Encounter: Picture with Santa is certainly a book in which children will love to read, or be read to, over-and-over again. The more times readers page this book, the more enjoyment all will gain. Even after a few readings, I found myself still chuckling at the “Santa smells like moth balls and he has onion breath” comment, and began to even memorize the rhymes. This book is definitely one not to miss, and will make a great gift – even best during the Christmas season!