A bustling, jolly holiday read.
Elmore the Christmas moose returns for another holiday season.
When Santa Claus falls sick a week before Christmas, Mrs. Claus sends him on vacation for some R&R. “I had an important decision to make: who to leave in charge while I was away,” says Santa. While the obvious choice seems Mrs. Claus, Santa decides to ask Elmore to step in for him and gives him an exceptionally long to-do list—just one of many instances of text contained in the artwork that invite readers’ laughter. Boldt’s illustrations feel busy, matching the wordiness of the writing; at times they seem as though they’d be better suited to animation, but there’s ample humor in several letters Elmore writes to Santa about his mishaps and struggles with grouchy reindeer and mischievous elves as they prepare for Christmas Eve. Santa tries to help by writing back from afar, but his medicine makes him sleepy, with a much-needed letter going unfinished, and Elmore is left to his own devices as chaos ensues in the cartoon-style illustrations. Santa rallies when he receives a particularly panicked missive and advises the moose to make this “Elmore’s Christmas.” With that encouragement, Elmore makes more work for everyone by doing away with the naughty/nice list, but all’s well that ends well as he literally takes the reins on Christmas Eve and delivers presents before Santa’s return to the North Pole. Santa and Mrs. Claus are tan-skinned; the elves are diverse.
A bustling, jolly holiday read. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Oct. 28, 2025
ISBN: 9780593518052
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: Aug. 29, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Not enough tricks to make this a treat.
Another holiday title (How To Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Elkerton, 2017) sticks to the popular series’ formula.
Rhyming four-line verses describe seven intrepid trick-or-treaters’ efforts to capture the witch haunting their Halloween. Rhyming roadblocks with toolbox is an acceptable stretch, but too often too many words or syllables in the lines throw off the cadence. Children familiar with earlier titles will recognize the traps set by the costume-clad kids—a pulley and box snare, a “Tunnel of Tricks.” Eventually they accept her invitation to “floss, bump, and boogie,” concluding “the dance party had hit the finale at last, / each dancing monster started to cheer! / There’s no doubt about it, we have to admit: / This witch threw the party of the year!” The kids are diverse, and their costumes are fanciful rather than scary—a unicorn, a dragon, a scarecrow, a red-haired child in a lab coat and bow tie, a wizard, and two space creatures. The monsters, goblins, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns, backgrounded by a turquoise and purple night sky, are sufficiently eerie. Still, there isn’t enough originality here to entice any but the most ardent fans of Halloween or the series. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Not enough tricks to make this a treat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72821-035-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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