CHRISTMAS, ARE WE THERE YET?

Frankie spends all year awaiting Christmas.

On the disappointing day after, it’s not the Ghost of Christmas Past but the decorative detritus that haunts the Yuletide-obsessed youngster. His hound, Peppermint, proposes a plan: a calendar countdown to Christmas. January is for “holiday sing-alongs,” and February’s red Valentines, including handwritten notes for Santa, are touched up with green. Leprechauns usually take center stage on St. Patrick’s Day, but Frankie fashions an elf in art class, while April’s Easter eggs are Noel-themed. A friend enjoys May’s fresh flowers, but Frankie is crafting a Christmas wreath, and at the beach in June he sports a Santa sweater atop his shorts. Frankie colors patriotic July 4 fireworks red, white, and green, and in August he makes sand angels. He can’t do anything with September’s apples, but at least Halloween is redeemed by his Santa costume. Thanksgiving sees him craft a mashed-potato snowman. At last, we reach December. There’s a countdown for the last five days, and then…it’s here and gone again. The title refrain really doesn’t fit the verse rhythm, and other lagging lines sometimes interrupt the flow. Still, the sentiment will resonate with many a Christmas-loving youngster, and Kozak’s goofy but colorful art matches the silly tone of the text.

Guaranteed to please little ones who can’t get enough of Yuletide—all year round.