AN ELK DROPPED IN
by Andreas Steinhöfel & illustrated by Kerstin Meyer & translated by Alisa Jaffa
When Mr. Moose, Santa’s sled tester, crashes through the roof of the Webster home shortly before Christmas, it guarantees an unusual holiday season. Mr. Moose has a broken ankle and is going to stay with Billy, his sister Kiki and their mother until it has mended. In the meantime, the Websters have their hands full with unusual dinners, meddlesome neighbors, unearthly travels and unexpected visitors. Gradually, the family comes to love Mr. Moose, and when Santa arrives to fetch him, the children’s visiting grandmother postpones the inevitable by serving Santa some alcoholic holiday cheer. Finally, though, it’s time for Mr. Moose to say goodbye. Billy is particularly reluctant to see him go, but with Mr. Moose’s clout, Billy’s Christmas wish for his separated parents to reunite just might come true. The attractive overall design and the appealing nature of the sophisticated cartoon-like illustrations perk up this holiday offering. Unfortunately, the ending is rather saccharine, and asides clearly directed at grownups interrupt the flow of the story. A holiday offering most suited for an adult audience. (Fiction. 7-10, adult)