Peppa Pig moves from her preschool TV series shown on Nick Jr. to the holiday bookshelf with this simple, amusing story about Santa’s missing list of toys and their intended recipients.
Peppa and her little brother George open the story by meeting their friends at the mailbox to mail their letters to Santa with their toy requests. The porcine siblings prepare for the holiday with their parents, and on Christmas Eve, the little pigs surprise Santa in their living room as he leaves their wrapped gifts. He discovers he has lost his list of presents, and Peppa is able to help Santa, as she can remember all the items their friends requested. The final page shows all the friends lined up at the pig family’s door, carrying their new Christmas toys. The story is just the right length and complexity for preschoolers who are starting to listen to real stories, and though the text is short and simple, it still offers an actual plot and humorous dialogue. Digitally produced illustrations use simple shapes with thick outlines around the characters and a jazzy palette of neon brights contrasted with cool pastels to create a sharp, contemporary mood.
Peppa Pig and her friends seem destined for further adventures to complement the currently popular TV series. (Picture book. 2-5)
