1993 New York Times Illustrated Book of the Year

Consideration, warmth, perseverance, and patience give a child precious dreams for growth.
John Burningham's The Gift of Christmas features an unusual Santa Claus.
Santa Claus is about to go to bed and rest after giving presents to all the children in the world on Christmas Eve, but he discovers that he has left one present for one person and sets off again.
And that too for a poor child who lives far, far away, in a very high place.
Moreover, Santa Claus is the one who takes care of the sick reindeer that was supposed to help him fly in one go and then sets off on his journey.
It's a decision that Santa Claus makes in the middle of the night, just hours before Christmas, and it seems a bit reckless, but it's also quite touching because it's his effort and determination to not give despair to a child who only receives presents from Santa Claus once a year.

How excited and nervous must Harvey Slumpenberger be on Christmas Eve on a cold and lonely night, a child whose parents are too poor to buy him presents, a child who only receives one gift a year.
I wonder if I can even sleep.
For such a child, Santa Claus invites himself on a long journey to give him a present.

Whatever gift Harvey Slumpenberger received, readers of this book will feel it.
Harvey Slumpenberger learns that the gifts he receives are not things, but the warmth, patience, consideration, love, and effort of Santa Claus who came all the way to find him.
A child who experiences someone's unwavering passion, interest, love, and effort will grow up knowing that this world is worth living in and is warm.

The care and love for a child requires many hands.
John Burningham's The Gift of Christmas is not simply a story about giving Christmas presents.
This is not the story of Santa Claus, a man with the power to freely travel around the world in a flying reindeer sleigh.
Santa Claus, who has to travel alone because his reindeer is sick, must complete a very important mission: deliver a present to a child named Harvey Slumpenberger before Christmas morning.
The place is so remote and dangerous that Santa Claus has to fly, drive, ride a motorcycle, ski, and even use a rock climber to reach Harvey Slumpenberger's house by leaning on a rope.
If Santa Claus had set out alone with a sick reindeer, would he have arrived sooner and safer?
As the saying goes, "It takes a village to raise a child," giving hope to a child and helping them grow up well requires many hands.
Everyone Santa Claus meets plays a vital role in helping him complete his mission and keeping Harvey Slumpenberger from despair.
They are the protagonists of hope.
John Burningham's "The Gift of Christmas" is a book that talks about the value of sharing.

John Burningham's pictorial language stands out with its diverse materials and techniques.
John Burningham mixes and blends a variety of textures into one picture book.
All kinds of materials, including watercolors, crayons, rubber watercolors, pastels, charcoal, and ink, all pop into the world of his picture books.
Although they are expressionless and indifferent characters, the characters captured in John Burnham's warm gaze have warm hearts when you get to know them.
The stories told in simple pictorial language resonate in the hearts of readers, creating different emotions for each individual.
His drawings, which depict Santa Claus's journeys in a humorous way using all kinds of vehicles, make us forget Santa Claus's antics and age.