ELMORE AND THE BIG CHRISTMAS RESCUE

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.