Catherine Emmett shares her fun Christmas tale, Santa vs the Naughty Listers!

About Author

In Santa vs the Naughty-Listers, three mischievous siblings know that they are bound to be on the Naughty List! Here's author Catherine Emmett to tell us more.

Catherine Emmett grew up in Newcastle and spent all of her childhood reading books. When she grew up, she spent 14 years making spreadsheets but then moved to rural Essex and started to write picture books. She now spends her days surrounded by words, animals and three noisy boys.

Sam Caldwell is an award-winning illustrator based in Glasgow where he lives with his wife and two cats. Sam loves inventing characters and creating images packed full of detail, texture, and colour. He is passionate about animals and nature, and - when not drawing - can often be found exploring the Scottish Highlands.

Interview

November 2026

Catherine Emmett introduces her Christmas tale of mischievous siblings!

Santa vs the Naughty Listers is a perfect picture book to share in the run-up to all the fun of Christmas. Prompting discussions about behaviour, mischief and consequences, this is a light-hearted story about three siblings who try to out-smart Santa - but who get it right in the end.

ReadingZone caught up with author Catherine Emmett to find out more about Santa vs the Naughty Listers (OUP Children's Books), illustrated by Sam Caldwell, to find out how her own children help inspire her stories, and ideas for follow-on activities with young children aged three to six years.

More about Santa vs the Naughty Listers: "Santa vs the Naughty-Listers is a funny Christmas story which should hopefully encourage some good behaviour!" - Reviewed by Lucy for ReadingZone.

Q&A with Catherine Emmett: Mischievous siblings, clever Santa and Christmas traditions

"I think the book shows that we can all be a little bit naughty and a little bit nice and that it's ok
to be a little bit naughty sometimes."

1. Hello Catherine! Thank you for joining us on ReadingZone to talk about your Christmas picture book, Santa vs the Naughty Listers. How did you start writing picture books for children?

Hello! I started writing picture books because I just had too many words in my head and the only way to get them out was to write them down! I found that I really love writing, especially in rhyme.

My stories are usually narrative tales rather than being concept led because I just love making up characters and worlds. Some of my books include dark humour and others contain the messages about self-belief and not giving up which I wish I could give to every small child.

2. What happens in your new picture book, Santa vs the Naughty Listers?

Santa vs The Naughty is about three boys who end up on Santa's Naughty List. Instead of changing their ways and accept they won't be getting any presents they decide to take matters into their own hands and steal Santa's presents! The book is about them setting up a trap for Santa and may have a twists or two!

3. It's fun to see a story about naughty children, but what inspired it?

I have three sons . . . you can make your own conclusions!

4. Were you ever on Santa's Naughty List?

Haha of course! I think the book shows that we can all be a little bit naughty and a little bit nice and that it's ok to be a little bit naughty sometimes. I think these days too many children - especially boys - are labelled as naughty when it's just normal boisterous behaviour.

5. Were you impressed by the children's ingenuity in their Santa traps, illustrated by Sam Caldwell?

I love Sam's illustrations! He's done a fabulous job of capturing their mischievous sides! I love the scene with Santa hanging from the light!

6. What's your favourite moment or spread in the story?

I love the image of the boys under the covers with the torches making their dastardly plan! It reminds me of being little and hiding under the covers late at night. Me my sister and my cousin used to all play games with torches at night and it makes me remember the smell of the blankets!

7. What kinds of questions do you think children will have about the story? How could the story be used in the class to inspire questions or activities?

I think it could be used really well to discuss behaviour and where the line is between being a little bit mischievous vs doing something unkind or dangerous. I think it could also be used as inspiration for DT lessons, using saws and tools or making dens outside!

8. Is Christmas a favourite time of year for you - or do you dread it? What are you looking forward to the most this Christmas?

I LOVE Christmas! It is my favourite time of year. I love putting the decorations up with Frank Sinatra on the record player and getting all of the decorations out that we have collected over the years. I also love going to let the boys choose their Christmas Eve books, which get wrapped up and put under the tree until Christmas Eve when they can finally unwrap them!

Creative Challenge from Catherine Emmett

I'd love to know how the children would set up a trap for Santa! Perhaps they could draw it with some labels?! Or maybe they could make a little flip book illustration of Santa getting stuck in the chimney!? Or maybe they could make up their own flying creature to pull Santa's sleigh!

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