These Santa letters from children bring the holiday magic

The McClurg sisters clearly have some shenanigans planned. Claire, 10, is looking for magical mystery books and her first pair of high-heels, eight-year-old Rose wants three “adventure suits” for her and her sisters – plus an otter costume, pillow and blanket – and five-year-old Neve would like a bat. Whether the flying or Blue Jays sort, that’s for Santa to interpret.

Nine-year-old Kiarah definitely still wants gifts from Santa, despite her concerns about his magical surveillance methods even "when we're taking a shower." Also writing on behalf of her twin brother, Kiaan, who has physical and cognitive challenges, she politely requested a horse play set, and a sparkly pink camera (or no sparkles, as long as it's pink) for herself.

The first letter four-year-old Laurence wrote all by himself is an important one! For those of us not on his wavelength, Laurence is asking Santa for a magic wand set, a train engine and a calculator, his mom, Genevieve Gilbert, clarified. We have faith Saint Nick will be able to decipher the message and bring the right gifts to snowy Smithers.

Curiosity clearly runs in the Valente family. Oliver, 11, got right to asking Santa if “anything bad” had happened in the toy factory, eight-year old Rory had “loads of questions” – including what year Saint Nick began delivering presents – and six-year-old Sara was keen to know how he flies around the world “in one whole night” and whether any of the elves had gotten sick. After sharing their wish list, Oliver and Sara made an ask on their father’s behalf. “My Dad would like a ‘Japanese toilet’ or whatever they call fancy toilets these days,” Oliver wrote. The kids’ fascination with a model with a built-in bidet has kept the toilet jokes flowing, Mike Valente explained.

Naughty or nice? Eight-year-old Hannah levelled with Santa that there was a case for him to put her on either list. “This year, I have been good and bad. Hard to choose my listing, huh?” she wrote before making her requests, including a pair of roller skates.

Nine-year-old Gavin “simply only” wants three things for Christmas, if Santa can manage: A puppy (“but if you can’t, that’s 100% ok with me”), Meta AI glasses (“I know my family members aren’t going to buy it for me because it’s like soooo expensive”), and “all the other loot” under the tree. Unfailingly hopeful about the high-tech glasses, Gavin points out “the good thing about it is your elf can just build it.” And ever understanding, he never forgets his manners: “But if it’s too hard and you guys can’t manage computers I get it.”

At six years old, Lily has already learned the art of a short and sweet argument. “I think I was nice,” she tells Santa in her letter, adorned with drawings of Rudolph, a candy cane and Santa’s signature hat. Lily’s only wish is a “ginormous bunny,” while her two-year-old sister, Thea, is in a big Disney phase and would like “a Goofy toy.” The elves will have to decide just how big a “ginormous” rabbit really is, before they hop to it.