J.R.R. Tolkien Letters From Father Christmas, Centenary Edition

Letters From Father Christmas, Centenary Edition collects the letters and illustrations J.R.R. Tolkien made for his children as a yearly North Pole tradition. This 208-page English edition includes full-color reproductions, an introduction by Baillie Tolkien and a personal note from Tolkien, making it suited to seasonal family reading and Tolkien fans.

At a glance

Reproduces letters and drawings J.R.R. Tolkien created for his children as a Christmas tradition.
The North Pole tales feature escaped reindeer, a mishap-prone Polar Bear and goblin adventures.
Includes an introduction from Baillie Tolkien and a personal note by Tolkien.
The listing describes this as a smaller, more reader-friendly trim size for the letters.

Price

$13.75Save 57%

Reference price: ~~$32.00~~

Price checked: Nov 12, 2026

View offer

Often bought together

Tales From The Perilous Realm: The Definitive Collection of Tolkien’s Classic “Fairie” Tales

$14.00

The Adventures of Tom Bombadil: Poetry and Stories about the Beloved Lord of the Rings Character

$9.20

Pros and cons

Pros

Full-color reproductions combine the letters with Tolkien's own drawings and sketches.
A selection of whimsical stories makes the collection a fit for seasonal family read-alouds.
Includes contextual material from Baillie Tolkien alongside Tolkien's own note.

Technical specifications

9 specifications

Publication
Publisher	William Morrow
Publication date	October 27, 2020
Language	English
Print length	208 pages
ISBN-10	0358389887
ISBN-13	978-0358389880

Dimensions and weight
Dimensions	8.69 x 0.93 x 11 inches
Weight listed	2.36 pounds

Audience
Reading age listed	8+ years, from customers

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Tolkien readers looking for a festive, illustrated collection of his letters to his children.
Families interested in sharing a seasonal read-aloud with imaginative North Pole stories.
Gift buyers seeking a Christmas-themed book with Tolkien illustrations.

Less suited to

Readers seeking a conventional single continuous novel rather than a collection of letters and related tales.

J.R.R. Tolkien Letters From Father Christmas, Centenary Edition · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.6 / 5 · 5,538 ratings

5 stars79%79%
4 stars13%13%
3 stars5%5%
2 stars2%2%
1 star1%1%

Customer feedback highlights the letters, illustrations, writing and warm family appeal, including reports that both children and adults enjoy the book. That response fits an edition built around illustrated correspondence and seasonal stories. Feedback is not uniformly positive, however, and aggregate ratings alone do not explain individual reservations.

Positive themes

Customers describe the content as enjoyable for the whole family.
Feedback praises the color reproductions, illustrations and Tolkien's letters to his children.
Customers appreciate Tolkien's writing and report that the book feels heartwarming.

Frequently asked questions

What is included in this edition?

The listing describes Tolkien's letters to his children, full-color drawings and sketches, an introduction by Baillie Tolkien and a personal note by Tolkien.

Is this a continuous story?

It is presented as a collection of letters and North Pole adventures, rather than a single continuous novel.

How long is the book?

The listed print length is 208 pages.

What age is it listed for?

The listing shows a reading age of 8+ years, attributed to customers.