THE LEGEND OF PAPA NOËL

Dunham presents the story of a Christmas Eve so foggy that even the magical, glowing gator Nicollette will be unable to lead Papa Noël’s pirogue to the homes of the good little Cajun girls and boys so that he can distribute his sack full of toys. Just as Papa Noël and his gators begin to despair, they discover that the Cajun people, having anticipated Papa Noël’s difficulties, have kindly and shrewdly solved the problem by building giant bonfires to light his way. Cleverly, the author saves readers from the oft-made mistake of connecting the use of dialect and nonstandard grammar with ignorance by having the Cajuns solve Papa Noël’s problem. And just in case we don’t get the message, she tells us directly: “You see, Cajuns is some kinda smart, yeah.” Knorr creates rich illustrations in which lamps, fireflies and bonfires provide a warm glow to illuminate the nighttime settings. The detail in these illustrations adds a charming quirkiness to the story, particularly the antics of a small raccoon who keeps Papa Noël company, occasionally riding on his hat and even making a grab for his cookies and milk. (glossary) (Picture book. 4-10)