Creative Writing Prompt Inspired By Sad Santa
I’m a huge fan of children’s literature, so I add books to our home library often. I have tried (without a lot of success) to cut back on book purchases over the last year. Unfortunately, I tend to have trouble resisting a great holiday book. That was the case with Tad Carpenter’s Sad Santa last year. It quickly became one of our favorite new holiday reads. Keep reading to see how I used the book to inspire my oldest to think creatively.
READING SAD SANTA
I remember a lot of Christmas reading with my sister and parents as a child. This is probably why I have a soft spot for buying my boys Christmas books. In addition to our 25 Books Of Christmas tradition, I also add a few other books to our library each December. Sad Santa was one addition last year. I chose it because I am a huge fan of the illustrative style. Carpenter abandons the traditional Christmas color schemes of bright, vibrant reds, greens, silvers, and golds. Instead, he chose a more muted and subdued palette. Maybe it’s a nod to Santa’s somber mood through much of the book. I love the brown craft paper feel of the backgrounds, and the very graphic, almost printed or stamped feel to the drawings. (Hmmm… perhaps this will inspire a printing project in the future… Time will tell!)
CREAtIVE WRITING AND DRAWING WITH SAD SANTA
#thebigone enjoys the tale. He has always been particularly enthralled with the quirky cast of characters and the North Pole’s super cool ‘Idea Machine’! After we had taken a few minutes to talk about how sad Santa was feeling throughout the book, and why he felt that way, we turned our attention to a more positive discussion. Using the printable writing prompt and drawing prompt you’ll find below, #thebigone engaged in some creative thinking. He decided what he would do to help Santa feel better. (Spoiler alert. My kid apparently thinks Santa eats his feelings, because he’s going to cheer him up with cookies!)
Creative activities like this extend your story time with your children. They are great for checking retention and comprehension of ideas from stories. Posing open ended questions that can be answered through writing, drawing, or both, lets children use their imaginations. In turn, it helps develop critical thinking skills. There’s also aid to fine motor development as they practice holding pens, pencils, etc. Grab your Sad Santa creative prompts below. Encourage your kids to think about how they would help to cheer up the jolly old elf.
>>> Sad Santa Writing Prompt <<<
>>> Sad Santa Drawing Prompt <<<
