BLESS YOU, SANTA!
by Julie Sykes & illustrated by Tim Warnes
Sykes and Warnes team up for their second story about a Santa who makes all the Christmas toys with the help of his animal companions rather than elves. On December 23rd, Santa wakes up with a horrid cold and is unable to finish the toys for Christmas Eve delivery. His huge sneezes, illustrated with “ACHOOOO!” in flowing display type, are large enough to knock over the completed toys, so Santa’s pet cat and mouse tuck him into bed and finish all the toys with the help of the other animals. Santa makes a quick recovery and is able to deliver the toys on Christmas Eve, just as his cat starts to come down with the cold. Preschoolers will enjoy the humor of the huge sneezes, though they may wonder what happened to Santa’s elves and why he only has four reindeer instead of eight. Warnes provides cheerful illustrations full of bold colors and bright patterns, and he has a humorous way with his animal characters, including the tiny but expressive mouse and the cat who wears a headband with star antennae. (Picture book. 3-6)