Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus: The Classic Edition

by Francis Pharcellus Church

Book Overview

Share the magic of this Christmas classic, complete with beautiful full-color illustrations, based on a real letter to Santa Claus and proving that he is, once and for all, real. In 1897, a young girl wrote to The New York Sun asking whether Santa Claus truly existed. The paper's response, written by reporter Francis P. Church, has become a beloved holiday literary tradition. An original approach to a children's classic, this captivating book creatively...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0762411201
• ISBN13: 9780762411207
• Release Date: August 2001
• Publisher: Running Press Kids
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 1.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 9.9" x 13.0"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

A Timeless Forever Story

This wonderful story book should be got for children from a very early age and let them embrace the story and read it to them and also later when they do become doubtful. You may get a pleasant surprise of their understanding. This is a gorgeous edition. .

Wonderful beautiful Christmas book to be cherished always!

This is a really beautiful Christmas book about the proof that there is really a Santa Claus. Every family should share this story on Christmas Eve , if you have ever seen the movie Prancer then you will see how important this story is. The book is beautifully illustrated and easy to read. It would make a perfect Christmas gift or any time gift for any one special in your life, I would recommend it to everyone everyone should have a copy.

Beautifully Illustrated

A beautifully illustrated edition based on the legendary letter that appeared in The New York Sun in 1897. Perfect for those who ask whether there really is a Santa? Team this with the movie Miracle on 34th Street (either version) and they will believe for many more years to come.

Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus

ISBN 038530854x - A Christmas favorite, the story of THAT question, how it was asked and, more importantly, how it was answered, this is a story that should be told and retold as often as possible. There are various versions, some better than others. Christine Allison writes a foreword to what is probably the most famous letter to the editor of The New York Sun and its answer. A young girl named Virginia, encouraged by her father - because "If you see it in The Sun, it's so." - writes to ask if there really is a Santa Claus. The anonymous (at the time) response assures her that, indeed, there is a Santa Claus with absolutely certainty. The book ends with information about the main characters involved: Virginia O'Hanlon, the young letter writer; Francis Church, the reluctant editor who responded; Thomas Nast, the illustrator of the book and the man who single-handedly gave us our popular image of Santa. Allison's foreword is fairly pointless, in my opinion. Illustrations by Thomas Nast are very nice - if you've seen the originals. This book is so small and the drawings have been substantially shrunk, making it impossible to really make out the fantastic detail in them. The author of Virginia's response, Francis Pharcellus Church, could not possibly have known that 111 years later, we would still be reading his eloquent letter - or that childrens' movies (Yes Virginia There Is a Santa Claus, YES VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS (ANIMATED)) would be inspired by it. That alone should tell you a lot about the power of Church's answer. More than Santa, Church assures the reader that love, good, magic and all manner of unseen wonders, including god, exist and will continue to exist. The mention of god will particularly delight some; Virginia's father's faith in his newspaper of choice will amuse and sadden the cynical reader of 2008. The language Church uses might indicate that eight year olds in 1897 were way more grammatically advanced than the 2008 edition of eight year olds, which is part of why this book will appeal to adults. It's a nice thing to have on hand, to snatch that one last year of believing from the jaws of doubt. - AnnaLovesBooks

beautiful

I love everything about this story! The fact that you can own a copy of it in such a lovely format is very nice. It makes a wonderful gift if you're wanting to share the ideals of faith and love. Also, it is simply the best answer to the question! I am giving it to an adult for Christmas this year.

This is the book for a child at the age of non belief

I have read this book as a child and as an adult read it to my children. This is truly a piece to read at Christmas time every year.