A refreshingly uncommercial Yuletide tale.
A family-oriented celebration of hard work, capped with a special meal.
Early on Christmas Day, Sam and Grandpa walk to the barn through a snowy yard. Before they can celebrate, they’ve got chores to do: milking the cow, bathing their big fluffy dog, and feeding the mare, chicks, pigs, calves, sheep, and goats. And, of course, they must check on the mare one more time. When Mama asks for help gathering eggs, Sam, petting a kitten and watching the cat lap up milk, readily agrees. Mama, Grandma, and Sam have plenty to do inside: chopping and peeling potatoes, sweeping up, and setting the table. Once all five are gathered around their laden table, Daddy says grace. Later that night, everyone piles into a horse-drawn wagon for a brief ride that ends at the barn, where a nativity scene awaits: The mare has birthed a foal. Brief rhyming couplets carry readers smoothly through a very busy day. Cartoon-style art in subdued colors depicts a soft, evenly lit, and orderly farm. Despite the snow, clothing choices such as wide-brimmed hats suggest a Southwest setting. Notably, Sam’s family has a Christmas tree, but no gifts are seen or mentioned; warm family connection and Sam’s willing participation are what truly matter on this day. This tale offers a positive, Santa-free take on the holiday that might be different from many readers’ expectations, potentially expanding horizons. Characters are tan-skinned and dark-haired.
A refreshingly uncommercial Yuletide tale. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2025
ISBN: 9781534113565
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
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Say hello to a relatable and rewarding early reader!
Fun with friends makes for a great day.
Norbit, a salmon-colored worm with a pink kerchief, joyfully greets the day and everyone he encounters. “Hello, friends! It’s time for fun with the sun! Let’s play!” He and his menagerie of forest pals—including the sun, who grows limbs and descends from the sky—exuberantly engage in various forms of physical activity such as jumping, going down a slide, spinning around, and watching the clouds go by. Young readers will readily relate, as these are games that most children are familiar with. As day turns to night, Norbit says farewell to Sun and welcomes Moon with an invitation to continue the fun. Watkins has created a vivid world of movement and merriment. Her illustrations feature bright bursts of color that match the energy of the text, with most sentences ending in an exclamation point. The author/illustrator incorporates many elements that make for an ideal early-reading experience (despite the use of a contraction or two): art free from clutter, text consisting of words with only one or two syllables, and repetition and recurring bits, such as a continued game of hide-and-seek with Sun. Inspired by never-before-seen sketches from the Dr. Seuss Collection archives at the University of California San Diego, this is the first title for Seuss Studios, a new imprint for original stories from “emerging authors and illustrators” who “honor Seuss’s hallmark spirit of creativity and imagination.”
Say hello to a relatable and rewarding early reader! (author's note) (Early reader. 5-8)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9780593646212
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Seuss Studios
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024
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