MERRY UN-CHRISTMAS
by Mike Reiss & illustrated by David Catrow
Christmas celebrations? Again? Ho-ho-hum. It’s just another regular day in the town of Christmas City in the state of Texmas. It’s Christmas there 364 days a year, and all those presents and holiday feasts and bright decorations just get so very boring week after week. This satirical story focuses on a little girl named Noelle who is looking forward to celebrating Un-Christmas, the one day of the year when she gets to attend school and see her friends. She delights in watching new TV shows, receiving mail and seeing the starlit night sky after the de-lighting of the town Christmas tree. Noelle is sorry to see the one special day of the year end, though her mom assures her that it would be boring to have Un-Christmas all year long. Catrow’s exuberant watercolor illustrations match the tongue-in-cheek tone of the text, with a futuristic flair and a cool color palette of icy blue, lemon and lime. He incorporates witty asides into store signs and newspapers ads (“Only three more shopping days till Un-Christmas”) for some additional chuckles. (Picture book. 4-9)