The Animals' Santa

From School Library Journal PreS-Gr 2—The woodland denizens of a northern Canadian forest can't wait for Christmas, because that's when their Santa secretly leaves gifts (heart-shaped stones, bells, acorns, and the like) for everyone. Big Snowshoe the rabbit is absolutely convinced of Santa's existence; Little Snow, his younger brother, is a bit more skeptical, and nothing Big Snowshoe or the other animals say as they decorate a Christmas tree make him feel any differently. Side panels on each page show lemming elves creating the various gifts. A minor accident on the frozen stream gives Big Snowshoe the idea to hang ice crystals on twigs, and the sound they make alerts everyone to the appearance of Santa, who is a snowy owl. As usual, Brett's illustrations are the highlight—lush and magical, filled with whimsical details that will reward repeated viewings. The story itself is adequate (though the twist in which the predator delivers gifts to his normal prey is ingenious) and could play a part in a nonreligious holiday program.—Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library "Brett excels at snowy settings, and her legions of fans will enjoy this well-told tale accompanied by her usual highly detailed watercolor illustrations and skillfully integrated secondary story." - Kirkus Reviews "Brett evokes a wintry landscape filled with animals, distinguished by her signature level of meticulous detail. . .xa0The dramatic arrival of Santa—an exquisite snowy owl—is well worth the wait." - Publishers Weekly "An entertaining holiday diversion." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "This Santa may be elusive, but he is definitely real, making Little Snow’s ultimate discovery truly satisfying." - The Horn Book Jan Brett (www.janbrett.com) is the beloved New York Times bestselling author/illustrator of many books for children. She lives in Norwell, Massachusetts. Read more