A TEDDY BEAR CHRISTMAS WISH

On Christmas Eve, a determined stuffed-animal sewing pattern seeks out Santa, hoping to be turned into a real teddy bear.

As midnight approaches on Christmas Eve, an intrepid, yet-to-be-made teddy steps out of its pattern book. It resolves to climb the Christmas tree and swing on tinsel over to the mantel. There, it will intercept Santa and ask to be magicked into a proper, three-dimensional bear. Adventure ensues across 19 double-spread pages; the brave little pattern is imperiled by both a whirring ceiling fan and a lit fireplace. This debut picture book from true crime author Whitlatch pursues a simple premise by way of straightforward, brightly lit, festively framed prose. Unfortunately, the narrative is often puzzling in its logic; for example, the bear fears falling but then revels in it. The prose has some awkward moments: “I know just what to do. / When everyone has gone to bed, / I will wait for Santa Claus. / He will know just what to do”; “I will meet Santa and / ask him to become a real teddy bear.” The story comes alive with Kikoba’s digital illustrations. These cleverly juxtapose the foregrounded two-dimensional teddy bear cut-out (alongside Sera, a dog) against murky three-dimensional backdrops. Splashes of light and color suggest magic in the dead of night. Very young readers may overlook the textual limitations and delight in the bear’s metamorphosis—a true Christmas miracle.

A whimsical if at times ungainly stocking stuffer.