Santa vs the Naughty-Listers

By Author / Illustrator

Catherine Emmett, illus Sam Caldwell

Genre

Seasonal

Age range(s)

Publisher

OUP Oxford

ISBN

9781382064910

Format

Paperback

Published

01-11-2026

Synopsis

Three mischievous brothers are certain they are on Santa's naughty list this year and won't be getting any presents. So, the brothers come up with a dastardly plan to trap Santa and keep all the presents for themselves! Can the boys outsmart Santa this Christmas? It's time to find out who's naughty and who's nice!

Find out more about mischief and Christmas traditions from author Catherine Bennett!

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Reviews

Lucy

Santa vs the Naughty-Listers is a funny Christmas story which should hopefully encourage some good behaviour!

Three brothers have spent all year being naughty and instead of changing their ways before Christmas, they decide to capture Santa and steal his toys. Obviously they don't get away with it and Santa teaches them a lesson!

The book uses rhyming to give it a good rhythm. My three-year-old already loves guessing which words are going to follow each time which is something my class love doing in story time too. The rhyming patter gives it a really good rhythm and makes the whole book flow beautifully.

The story teaches a good lesson. Although the boys aren't well behaved to start with, they soon learn their lesson and then have to earn back Santa's trust. It promotes lots of healthy discussions about behaviour and boundaries; something that would be useful in the family home or in the classroom at school.

Our favourite spread was when the boys had to pick up the reindeer poo as their punishment. My toddler found it hilarious and I'm sure my class will too. The illustrations are cartoony and support the cheeky characters of the boys. They show the mischief that they get up to and allow children to use their imaginations about what else they might get up to.

Santa vs the Naughty-Listers is a nice book to enjoy over the festive period, especially with children who may need a little reminder of how to stay on the good list!

Picture book / Reviewed by Lucy Hopkins, teacher

Jen

While I have never been a fan of 'The Naughty List' - why does anyone need to prove they need presents or love? - this is a good take on the list. The brothers in the story are wild. They are 100% on the naughty list. The brothers plan to trap Santa but he is smarter by far. Can the brothers make it right in the end?

Santa vs the Naughty-Listers is a fun story for little ones this Christmas time, and a good way for parents to remind their children to be good in the run-up to Christmas day. Rhyming couplets help the story to flow well while the illustrations are modern and lively. All in all, a fun, Christmas-themed story.

Picture book / Reviewed by Jen Bevan, teacher