Picture Book · Ages 5–8 · 1993

Harvey Slumfenberger's Christmas Present

By John Burningham

Father Christmas races against time to deliver a forgotten gift to a boy on a distant mountain.

4.2/5 Goodreads · 220 ratings

48 pages

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Bookroo's summary

After a long night of delivering gifts, Father Christmas discovers one present left for Harvey Slumfenberger, a boy who only receives his gift. Despite exhaustion, he embarks on a journey to the distant Roly Poly Mountain. Can he reach Harvey in time, or will the boy wake up to an empty Christmas? This heartwarming tale of determination and kindness unfolds as Father Christmas faces the ultimate test of his holiday spirit.

From the publisher

One Christmas Eve, Father Christmas returns home after a hard evening’s present delivering. Having put his reindeer to bed, he is just about to go to sleep himself, when he makes a distressing discovery: there is still one present left in his sack. It is for Harvey Slumfenberger, a poor boy whom Father Christmas knows only ever gets one present - the one that Father Christmas brings him. So, tired as he is, Father Christmas sets out alone for Harvey Slumfenberger’s home far, far away on top of the Roly Poly Mountain. But will he get there on time?

The author/illustrator of this picture book, John Burningham, has twice won the Kate Greenaway Medal - for “Borke: The Adventures of a Goose With No Feathers” (1964) and “Mr Gumpy’s Outing” (1970). He has also won the Emil/Kurt Maschler Award for “Granpa” (1984). His other books include “Alphabet”, “Numbers”, “Colours”, “Opposites” and the “Rhymetime” series.