PETE THE CAT SAVES CHRISTMAS

He’s back! That wildly popular cat steps in to save Christmas in the nick of time when Santa Cat gets sick.

Santa calls Pete, who is vacationing in Key West, and the helpful cat hops in his magically powered red van with his friend, a little yellow bird. Together they travel to the North Pole, where they hitch up the reindeer and load up the Christmas toys for delivery. Pete sings a new holiday song about giving: “although I am small, / at Christmas we give, so I’ll give it my all.” (As with the other Pete stories, the song and the story are available for download on the publisher’s website.) Pete, the yellow bird and the reindeer get all the toys delivered by Christmas morning, and when they return to the North Pole, they are met with cheers and a banner of thanks from Santa, the elves and the townsfolk. In the bottom corner of the final page, the yellow bird waits with a tiny package for Pete. The vibrant illustrations and the simple story create a satisfying whole, complemented by the song, but kids may need help understanding the expression “give it your all,” and they may also wonder why Pete looks perpetually bored.

But hey, it’s all good. Keep movin’ and groovin’, Pete. You’re one hip cat. (Picture book. 3-8)