A sweet look at what makes Christmas special.
Hedgehog and Tortoise experience their first Christmas.
“Merry whatmas? / Merry whichmas?” What in the world is Christmas? Fox declares that “Christmas is all about presents.” With kind smiles, Hedgehog and Tortoise think that sounds lovely. But alas, Fox greedily snatches all the brightly wrapped gifts and refuses to share. Badger, however, has a more culinary take on the holiday. “Christmas time is treat time,” Badger says, holding out a spoon of delicious batter to lick (though, unfortunately for Tortoise, it includes raisins). Each woodland creature has a different idea of what makes Christmas special: the singing, decorating, or maybe even the cozy sweaters. Rabbit alludes to the stress of the season: “Everything needs to be perfect … / Perfect! Perfect! Perfect!” The Christmas crackers make loud bangs (a British import cue), while the lights flash garishly. Neither Tortoise nor Hedgehog see the appeal of this holiday. In fact, Christmas seems downright overwhelming. Luckily, Owl arrives to tell them that the holiday “is about being with the ones you love.” And one thing they do know—it feels the best when they’re together. Dunbar’s soft, glowing art matches the duo’s warmth and tenderness, complete with rosy cheeks and gentle hugs. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A sweet look at what makes Christmas special. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2023
ISBN: 9780571379491
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Cookie-cutter predictability.
After all the daring escapes in the How To Catch… series, will the kids be able to catch Santa?
Oddly, previous installments saw the children trying (and failing) to catch an elf and a reindeer, but both are easily captured in this story. Santa, however, is slippery. Tempted but not fooled by poinsettias, a good book (attached to a slingshot armed with a teddy bear projectile), and, of course, milk and cookies, Santa foils every plan. The hero in a red suit has a job to do. Presents must be placed, and lists must be checked. He has no time for traps and foolery (except if you’re the elf, who falls for every one of them). Luckily, Santa helps the little rascal escape each time. Little is new here—the kids resort to similar snares found in previous works: netting, lures, and technological wonders such as the Santa Catcher 5000. Although the rhythm falters quite a bit (“How did we get out you ask? / It looked like we were done for. / Santa’s magic is very real, / and I cannot reveal more”), fans of the series may not mind. Santa and Christmas just might be enough to overcome the flaws. Santa and the elf are light-skinned, one of the children is brown-skinned, and the other presents as Asian. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Cookie-cutter predictability. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2023
ISBN: 9781728274270
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Aug. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
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