SOUTH POLE SANTA

Gleefully performed by Simon Vance, this quirky and charming Christmas tale is as good as it gets. Who knew that some of Santa’s elves are Irish, others North American, and at least one is Scandinavian? “Of course!” one thinks as this grin-worthy story about the Krumwerth family unfolds. They are about to land on the dreaded Permanent Naughty List (which is worse than lumps of coal) because they have become unpleasant to each other. One grumpy elf hopes they do make the list, but others, including a marvelously cheerful Santa, want to save them. They turn to 12-year-old Amanda Krumwerth—for whom Vance channels his inner preadolescent female. She has two days to help her family relearn the spirit of Christmas. A.C.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2016]