146. Mr. Santa. Jarvis. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book] [4 stars]
First sentence: Mr. Santa? Is it really you? Did you read my letter? And have you wiped your shoes? Would you like to meet my fishes? Isn't gingerbread delicious? Dogs or cats, Mr. Santa? You have to choose. Mr. Santa, want to hear me play? Can reindeer talk?
Premise/plot: A child has an adventure with Santa....or does she?
So essentially, the whole book captures one girl's one-sided conversation with Mr. Santa. I say one-sided only because the dialogue does not reveal any answers to the questions. I love how question-heavy the book is. It's BUBBLY. In an enthusiastic, joyful way that captures innocent moments of childhood. You know that super-excited, exuberant, can't keep quiet, can't-keep-still level of pure joy and happiness. The book is great at capturing that.
The ending--for better or worse--is ambiguous. Did the girl dream her adventure with Santa? Or was it 'really real.' The book can certainly meet children where they are perhaps....
My thoughts: I was torn between four and five stars. I certainly enjoyed this one. It reminds me in some ways of Polar Express. However, Polar Express is firmly in the Santa is REAL camp. Polar Express the book is also more fantastical. This was a much simpler story. The dialogue was great. I could see these questions being genuine, authentic questions that a kid might have.
I'm also torn on if Mr. Santa should have talked within the book. His not talking leans me towards it being more an imaginative friend situation. [She of course heard EVERY answer to every question.]
147. Chicka Chicka Ho Ho Ho. William Boniface. Illustrated by Julien Chung. 2024. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars]
First sentence: A told B,
and B told C,
"I'll meet you in the branches
of the Christmas tree."
"Whee!" said D to E F G
"We'll be the decorations
on the Christmas tree."
Chicka chicka boom boom!
Everbyody zoom zoom!
Premise/plot: A holiday themed addition to the Chicka-Chicka series of books. The original Chicka Chicka Boom Boom was written by Bill Martin Jr. THAT book is a classic. This one features the letters of the alphabet having adventures/misadventures in a Christmas tree.
My thoughts: Predictable for sure. I am conflicted between three stars and four stars. I think adults who grew up on the original may react differently than actual children who may just see this as a joyful way to continue the fun of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. It can never be the original, but it can be fun or lean towards fun. And the good news of it being holiday-themed is that it is just around for a few weeks.
148. Christmas at Hogwarts. J.K. Rowling. Illustrate by Ziya Gao. 2024. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars]
First sentence: Christmas was coming. One morning in mid-December, Hogwarts woke to find itself covered in several feet of snow.
Premise/plot: This is an illustrated [slightly abridged] chapter from the first Harry Potter novel in picture book format. The chapter, of course, being the Christmas chapter. (I do appreciate how many/most of the novels do feature holiday stories).
My thoughts: Is it necessary? Maybe. Maybe not. I do think the answer depends on YOUR reaction to the illustrations. The illustrations DO steal the show, if you will. Very atmospheric.
Again, I'm torn on the rating. The illustrations were great. Definitely enjoyed looking at the illustrations, noticing all the details, the expressions, etc. But would I reach for this over the novel? I'm not sure.
© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers
150. Fox Plays Ball (I Can Read!) Corey R. Tabor. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars] [early reader, I Can Read, series book]