Kris Kringle and the Great Magic Swindle by Michael Wardner
Winner, 2025 North Street Book Prize, Middle Grade
After a successful night of bringing Christmas cheer to millions of good little boys and girls and a triumphant victory over his nemesis Krampus, Santa wakes up to discover that all the elves have been summoned to the Main Meeting Hall by the High Elf. Kringle tracks down his Chief Toymaker and learns, quite shockingly, that the elves must leave Christmas Town immediately. It seems that all the magic in the Natural World is disappearing, so the High Elf must take the Christmas elves back to the Magic Realm before it is too late. Oskar, the Chief Toy-making Elf, consults with Ms. Kringle and Santa and explains that there is enough magic left for Santa to carry on―he will just need to duplicate the toys they already have.
Somewhat relieved but quite sad, Santa bids farewell to the elves as they depart. But then a knock at the door reveals the Supreme Council of Sorcery, Witchcraft, and Tricks―who declare that Santa has violated one of their chief precepts: that Kringle cannot wield magic without a magical being accompanying him. They revoke his Magic License and seize all the magic―which leaves Christmas Town in ruins.
Undeterred, Santa travels to the Infernal Mountain in the Magic Realm, on a quest to get a magic rock which will give him enough magic to save Christmas. But calamity follows him and soon he is on a quest to save Christmas and himself. Kris Kringle and the Great Magic Swindle is a high-spirited adventure story starring Santa Claus, Ms. Kringle, and a cast of holiday favorites as they try to save all the magic in the world.
Michael Wardner's middle-grade novel Kris Kringle and the Great Magic Swindle is a witty romp that will entertain both children and adults. Santa's elves have quit, and the Supreme Council of Sorcery, Witchcraft, and Tricks is about to revoke his magic license. But there's a bigger conspiracy afoot to steal all the magic in the world. With help from trolls, elves, the Easter Bunny, and Ms. Kringle in her airplane, our jolly friend discovers that dividing people into "naughty" and "nice" may be the root of the problem...
The authorial voice is a large part of what makes Great Magic Swindle so great. One hears a real storyteller behind the words, a jovial raconteur holding court before an audience of youngsters who still believe in Santa and older folks who need something unexpected to rekindle their interest in the old tropes. It's a tall-tale-teller's voice reminiscent of Mark Twain or L. Frank Baum (whose books outside the Oz series include The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, by the way).
—From the critique by Jendi Reiter, final judge of the North Street Book Prize
26 illustrations. A great gift for children 8-12.
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