MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Will the Big Bad Wolf ruin Christmas? Not if these three pigs have anything to say about it.

It’s Christmastime in Fairyland. Everyone is enjoying the Winter Wonderland Festival, and the three little SUPERPIGS (referred to in all-caps) are taking part in the talent show. The grand prize? A visit with Santa. One pig is a skillful ice skater. Another is an amazingly accurate snowball thrower, and the third builds the largest snowman ever seen. Despite their best efforts, they can’t beat Little Red Riding Hood’s Christmas tree sculpture. She shares her prize with them, but when they get to Santa’s house, the jolly old elf is missing. The pigs follow Santa’s sleigh tracks, only to find the Big Bad Wolf is the culprit. Using their talent show skills, the trio must catch the wolf, free Santa, and save Christmas. Nursery rhyme details are again present in Evans’ fourth installment in the series. Wintry but colorful illustrations are filled with actions. This one isn’t anything special as holiday tales go, and though the ultimate message—that “Christmas is a time for giving, not just receiving”—is laudable, it feels a bit forced. The pigs’ shtick is wearing a tad thin, but fans may enjoy the addition of Christmas tropes to the SUPERPIG formula. Santa and Little Red Riding Hood are light-skinned; other human characters are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally).

These porkers may be getting a little long in the snout.