An amusing Christmas-themed story about a son, his father, and a holiday that might help them reconnect.
In a novel for middle-grade readers, a 10-year-old boy in Miami concocts a plan to kidnap Santa Claus from the North Pole in order to get his hands on a coveted toy.
Fifth grader Cooper Finister always seems to be in hot water with somebody—the courts, his teachers, and his mostly absent father—so it’s fitting that his Florida city is having a heat wave when he vows to get his hands on the top toy of the holiday season. To do that, he has to get off Santa’s Naughty List. His nemesis, Dax, is sure he can’t, and the two make a bet: Whoever is wrong will have to transfer to a military academy. In some ways, the story puts a fresh spin on the poor-little-rich-kid trope; Cooper has a pool and nanny and can’t expect help from his father, who’s been avoiding him since his mother died. Luckily, his grandfather used to work at the North Pole on Santa’s “security detail” and has ideas that might help. Even by middle-grade fantasy standards, the over-the-top plot requires a lot of suspension of disbelief, such as when Cooper impersonates his father to charter a plane to the North Pole. But its appealing elements include Cooper’s loyal best friend, Peony; a revealing confession from his father; and flashes of humor, some from a fit and cleanshaven Santa. This novel might not suit upper middle graders who prefer darker or more complex tales, but its whimsy could entertain younger ones who enjoy stories about elves, reindeer, and Santa’s workshop.
An amusing Christmas-themed story about a son, his father, and a holiday that might help them reconnect.Pub Date: Oct. 26, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-73701-730-1
Page Count: 184
Publisher: Raynen Katz
Review Posted Online: March 29, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Little Blue’s fans will enjoy the animal sounds and counting opportunities, but it’s the sparkling lights on the truck’s own...
The sturdy Little Blue Truck is back for his third adventure, this time delivering Christmas trees to his band of animal pals.
The truck is decked out for the season with a Christmas wreath that suggests a nose between headlights acting as eyeballs. Little Blue loads up with trees at Toad’s Trees, where five trees are marked with numbered tags. These five trees are counted and arithmetically manipulated in various ways throughout the rhyming story as they are dropped off one by one to Little Blue’s friends. The final tree is reserved for the truck’s own use at his garage home, where he is welcomed back by the tree salestoad in a neatly circular fashion. The last tree is already decorated, and Little Blue gets a surprise along with readers, as tiny lights embedded in the illustrations sparkle for a few seconds when the last page is turned. Though it’s a gimmick, it’s a pleasant surprise, and it fits with the retro atmosphere of the snowy country scenes. The short, rhyming text is accented with colored highlights, red for the animal sounds and bright green for the numerical words in the Christmas-tree countdown.
Little Blue’s fans will enjoy the animal sounds and counting opportunities, but it’s the sparkling lights on the truck’s own tree that will put a twinkle in a toddler’s eyes. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-544-32041-3
Page Count: 24
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available.
A ghost learns to appreciate his differences.
The little ghost protagonist of this title is unusual. He’s a quilt, not a lightweight sheet like his parents and friends. He dislikes being different despite his mom’s reassurance that his ancestors also had unconventional appearances. Halloween makes the little ghost happy, though. He decides to watch trick-or-treaters by draping over a porch chair—but lands on a porch rail instead. A mom accompanying her daughter picks him up, wraps him around her chilly daughter, and brings him home with them! The family likes his looks and comforting warmth, and the little ghost immediately feels better about himself. As soon as he’s able to, he flies out through the chimney and muses happily that this adventure happened only due to his being a quilt. This odd but gently told story conveys the importance of self-respect and acceptance of one’s uniqueness. The delivery of this positive message has something of a heavy-handed feel and is rushed besides. It also isn’t entirely logical: The protagonist could have been a different type of covering; a blanket, for instance, might have enjoyed an identical experience. The soft, pleasing illustrations’ palette of tans, grays, white, black, some touches of color, and, occasionally, white text against black backgrounds suggest isolation, such as the ghost feels about himself. Most humans, including the trick-or-treating mom and daughter, have beige skin. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-16.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 66.2% of actual size.)
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7352-6447-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
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