This is another side of the creator of Middle Earth, the whimsical side, telling stories about the antics of mischievous polar bears and gnomes and evil goblins trying to take over the North Pole, and disasters interfering with the delivery of Christmas presents.
This is a glimpse into the lives of the Tolkein family as the children grow up and no longer write letters to Father Christmas. As WWII interferes with obtaining supplies to make presents, and then difficulties finding the children to deliver those presents. There were several moments that threatened tears, seeing the changes, as one by one the children's names vanished from the greeting at the beginning of the letter.
What fun, having a father like Tolkein, who drew fun pictures to illustrate the adventures and disasters, and make up an "Arktic" alphabet for the North Polar Bear to write in, and then a goblin alphabet, and the Polar Bear mis-spelling words, and writing interjections in Father Christmas's letters, sometimes disputing what he said, and other times criticizing the poems he wrote. The labor of love that went into these letters is inspiring.
Reading this book and enjoying the illustrations should become a regular family holiday tradition.
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