Eustace and the Christmas Swim

Eustace and the Christmas Swim
by Remo Perini
Eleven-year-old Eustace’s father is an inventor and toymaker. Not needing new Christmas toys, the boy’s letter to Santa asks for the one thing he truly wants: jobs for the townspeople who haven’t worked since the town’s factory closed down. Instead, for himself he wants only to swim in the lake in his backyard, a difficult task since it is frozen! But Eustace doesn’t let that stop him. Through incredibly detailed illustrations, the story recounts Eustace’s resourcefulness and ingenuity in his efforts to unfreeze the lake – blankets and heaters, ducts and diverters, pulleys and winches. The recently dispirited townsfolk feel uplifted by Eustace’s incredible feat, and everyone rejoices in swimming in the lake. And Santa himself, buoyed by Eustace’s selfless request, proposes new jobs for the Snowvillians by making Christmas toys for him in the factory.

I really loved this book. It is a brand new take on a Christmas book and it is like nothing I have ever read. The uniqueness is what I really like. The illustrations look almost lifelike as if they were real photos that were filtered into an illustrated look. My son and I really enjoyed the imagination of Eustace. Everything seems like it would be impossible for a kid to do but it just makes the story that much better. My son is now asking if we can try to thaw his uncle's pond the same way. If you are a Christmas fan but want a book that is not your typical Christmas story, this is the book to get.
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